RPS6 phosphorylation occurs to a greater extent in the periphery of human skeletal muscle fibers, near focal adhesions, after anabolic stimuli

Following anabolic stimuli (mechanical loading and/or amino acid provision) the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a master regulator of protein synthesis, translocates toward the cell periphery. However, it is unknown if mTORC1-mediated phosphorylation events occur in these peripheral regions or prior to translocation (i.e. in central regions). We therefore aimed to determine the cellular location of a mTORC1-mediated phosphorylation event, RPS6Ser240/244, in human skeletal muscle following anabolic stimuli. Fourteen young, healthy males either ingested a protein-carbohydrate beverage (0.25g/kg protein, 0.75g/kg carbohydrate) alone (n=7;23±5yrs;76.8±3.6kg;13.6±3.8%BF, FED) or following a whole-body resistance exercise bout (n=7;22±2yrs;78.1±3.6kg;12.2±4.9%BF, EXFED). Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained at rest (PRE) and 120 and 300min following anabolic stimuli. RPS6Ser240/244 phosphorylation measured by immunofluorescent staining or immunoblot was positively correlated (r=0.76, p<0.001). Peripheral staining intensity of p-RPS6Ser240/244 increased above PRE in both FED and EXFED at 120min (~54% and ~138% respectively, p<0.05) but was greater in EXFED at both post-stimuli time points (p<0.05). The peripheral-central ratio of p-RPS6240/244 staining displayed a similar pattern, even when corrected for total RPS6 distribution, suggesting RPS6 phosphorylation occurs to a greater extent in the periphery of fibers. Moreover, p-RPS6Ser240/244 intensity within paxillin-positive regions, a marker of focal adhesion complexes, was elevated at 120min irrespective of stimulus (p=0.006) before returning to PRE at 300min. These data confirm that RPS6Ser240/244 phosphorylation occurs in the region of human muscle fibers to which mTOR translocates following anabolic stimuli and identifies focal adhesion complexes as a potential site of mTORC1 regulation in vivo.

Glioma Cells Acquire Stem-like Characters by Extrinsic Ribosome Stimuli

Although glioblastoma (GBM) stem-like cells (GSCs), which retain chemo-radio resistance and recurrence, are key prognostic factors in GBM patients, the molecular mechanisms of GSC development are largely unknown. Recently, several studies revealed that extrinsic ribosome incorporation into somatic cells resulted in stem cell properties and served as a key trigger and factor for the cell reprogramming process. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying GSCs development by focusing on extrinsic ribosome incorporation into GBM cells. Ribosome-induced cancer cell spheroid (RICCS) formation was significantly upregulated by ribosome incorporation. RICCS showed the stem-like cell characters (number of cell spheroid, stem cell markers, and ability for trans differentiation towards adipocytes and osteocytes). In RICCS, the phosphorylation and protein expression of ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6), an intrinsic ribosomal protein, and STAT3 phosphorylation were upregulated, and involved in the regulation of cell spheroid formation. Consistent with those results, glioma-derived extrinsic ribosome also promoted GBM-RICCS formation through intrinsic RPS6 phosphorylation. Moreover, in glioma patients, RPS6 phosphorylation was dominantly observed in high-grade glioma tissues, and predominantly upregulated in GSCs niches, such as the perinecrosis niche and perivascular niche. Those results indicate the potential biological and clinical significance of extrinsic ribosomal proteins in GSC development.

Phosphorylation of Ribosomal Protein S6 differentially affects mRNA translation based on ORF length

ABSTRACTPhosphorylation of Ribosomal Protein S6 (RPS6) was the first post-translational modification of the ribosome to be identified and is a commonly-used readout for mTORC1 activity. Although the cellular and organismal functions of RPS6 phosphorylation are known, its molecular consequences on translation are less well understood. Here we use selective ribosome footprinting to analyze the location of ribosomes containing phosphorylated RPS6 on endogenous mRNAs in cells. We find that RPS6 becomes progressively dephosphorylated on ribosomes as they translate an mRNA. As a consequence, average RPS6 phosphorylation is higher on mRNAs with short coding sequences (CDSs) compared to mRNAs with long CDSs. In particular, ribosomes translating on the endoplasmic reticulum are more rapidly dephosphorylated than cytosolic ribosomes. Loss of RPS6 phosphorylation causes a correspondingly larger drop in translation efficiency of mRNAs with short CDSs than long CDSs. Interestingly, mRNAs with 5’ TOP motifs are translated well also in the absence of RPS6 phosphorylation despite short CDS lengths, suggesting they are translated via a different mode. In sum this provides a dynamic view of RPS6 phosphorylation on ribosomes as they translate mRNAs in different subcellular localizations and the functional consequence on translation.

Inhibitory CD200-receptor signaling is rewired by type I interferon

CD200 Receptor 1 (CD200R) is an established inhibitory immune receptor that inhibits TLR-induced cytokine production through Dok2 and RasGAP. RasGAP can be cleaved under certain conditions of mild cellular stress. We found that in the presence of cleaved RasGAP, CD200R loses its capacity to inhibit rpS6 phosphorylation. Furthermore, IFNα pre-stimulation of human mononuclear cells results in increased amounts of cleaved RasGAP. Coherently, upon pretreatment with increasing concentrations of IFNα, CD200R gradually shifts from an inhibitor to a potentiator of TLR7/8-induced IFNG mRNA production. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients, a prototypic type I IFN disease, we found an increased proportion of cleaved RasGAP compared to healthy controls. In line with this, in subsets of SLE patients the inhibitory function of CD200R is lost or converted to a potentiating signal for IFNG mRNA production. Thus, our data show that type I IFN rewires CD200R signaling and suggest that this cell-extrinsic regulation of signaling could contribute to perpetuation of inflammation in SLE.

Comparison of Two Rapid Predictive Methods for Therapeutic Targeting in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Cells

Background. AML blasts from different patients vary in the agents to which they are most responsive. With a plethora of novel agents to evaluate, there is a lack of predictive biomarkers to precisely assign targeted therapies to individual patients. Primary AML cells often survive poorly in vitro, thus confounding conventional cytotoxicity assays. Dynamic profiling, i.e. functional biomarker assays of responsiveness to chemotherapeutic agents, is an alternative approach to help further the move towards personalised therapy. The purpose of this work was to assess the potential of two same-day dynamic profiling assays in AML cell lines to predict response to chemotherapy. (i) Ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6) is a downstream substrate of PI3K/akt/mTOR/ p70S6 kinase and MAPK/p90S6 kinase pathways and is also dephosphorylated following DNA double strand breaks. It thus has the potential to function as a biomarker of responsiveness to several therapeutic agents. (ii) Cellular propensity for apoptosis can be interrogated via a functional assay termed BH3 profiling. Dynamic BH3 profiling can be used to predict cellular responses to therapy based on priming mitochondria with BH3 domain peptides and thus allowing early detection of pro-apoptotic drug effects on mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilisation. Methods.We measured effects of a short (four hour) incubation with drugs of interest on rpS6 phosphorylation and BH3 peptide-accelerated cytochrome C release by flow cytometry. Baseline rpS6 phosphorylation was determined by culture with the mTOR inhibitor Rapamycin and the MEK inhibitor U0126. BH3 profiling included permeabilisation with digitonin followed by mitochondrial exposure to PUMA BH3-derived peptide. To establish specificity for sensitive cells we also measured dose responses to the drugs in 12 diverse AML cell lines after 48 hours' culture. Results. RpS6 dephosphorylation at four hours closely predicted the 48 hour IC50 for FLT3 inhibitors, an hsp90 inhibitor and topoisomerase II inhibitors. ROC (predictive test) analysis of small molecule inhibitors showed that the assay was highly sensitive and specific with area under the curve (AUC) values of 1.0 (sorafenib), 1.0 (AC220) and 1.0 (17-AAG). RpS6 phosphorylation also predicted response to the double strand break inducing drugs, with AUC values of 1.0 (mylotarg), 0.83 (etoposide) and 0.82 (vosaroxin). In contrast, responses to cytarabine and ABT-199, likely independent of mTOR, MAPK or double strand break response pathways, are not predicted by rpS6 dephosphorylation. PUMA-BH3 peptide-induced cytochrome C release also closely predicted the 48 hour IC50 with AUC values for FLT3 inhibitors of 1.0 (sorafenib) and 1.0 (AC220), double strand break inducing drugs 1.0 (mylotarg), 1.0 (etoposide) and 1.0 (vosaroxin) and a Bcl-2 targeting agent 0.875 (ABT-199). Response to 17-AAG and cytarabine were not predicted by this assay. Preliminary analysis shows that differential responses within primary AML sample subsets can be interrogated with these methodologies. Conclusions. In conclusion, we have established that rpS6 dephosphorylation and/or PUMA-BH3 peptide-induced cytochrome C release predict chemoresponsiveness to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, topoisomerase II inhibitors, an hsp90 inhibitor and a Bcl-2 targeting agent in AML cell lines after short term culture. Both assays are sensitive, specific and amenable to leukaemic sub-population analysis and are thus suitable assays for further development towards use in a clinical setting. pRS6 can be performed on smaller samples and is less technically challenging than priming with PUMA-BH3 peptide, but does not take into account apoptosis resistance that may occur independently of pathways effecting pRS6 inhibition. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.