An evolutionarily conserved pathway controls proteasome homeostasis

Nature. 2016 Aug 11;536(7615):184-9. doi: 10.1038/nature18943. Epub 2016 Jul 27.

Abstract

The proteasome is essential for the selective degradation of most cellular proteins, but how cells maintain adequate amounts of proteasome is unclear. Here we show that there is an evolutionarily conserved signalling pathway controlling proteasome homeostasis. Central to this pathway is TORC1, the inhibition of which induced all known yeast 19S regulatory particle assembly-chaperones (RACs), as well as proteasome subunits. Downstream of TORC1 inhibition, the yeast mitogen-activated protein kinase, Mpk1, acts to increase the supply of RACs and proteasome subunits under challenging conditions in order to maintain proteasomal degradation and cell viability. This adaptive pathway was evolutionarily conserved, with mTOR and ERK5 controlling the levels of the four mammalian RACs and proteasome abundance. Thus, the central growth and stress controllers, TORC1 and Mpk1/ERK5, endow cells with a rapid and vital adaptive response to adjust proteasome abundance in response to the rising needs of cells. Enhancing this pathway may be a useful therapeutic approach for diseases resulting from impaired proteasomal degradation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Survival
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Homeostasis*
  • Humans
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7 / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Molecular Chaperones / metabolism
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / chemistry
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism*
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • Proteolysis
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Stress, Physiological
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Adc17 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Protein Subunits
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • TORC1 protein complex, S cerevisiae
  • Transcription Factors
  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • SLT2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex