TSC2/Rheb signaling mediates ERK-dependent regulation of mTORC1 activity in C2C12 myoblasts.

The enhanced rate of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle cells results in a net increase in total protein content that leads to skeletal muscle growth/hypertrophy. The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent regulation of the activity of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and subsequent protein synthesis has been suggested as a regulatory mechanism; however, the exact molecular processes underlying such a regulation are poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to investigate regulatory mechanisms involved in the MEK/ERK-dependent pathway leading to mTORC1 activation in skeletal muscle cells. Treatment with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), a potent agonist of protein kinase C (PKC) and its downstream effector in the MEK/ERK-dependent pathway, resulted in the activation of mTORC1 signaling and phosphorylation of the upstream regulator tuberous sclerosis 2 (TSC2) in C2C12 myoblasts. PMA-induced activation of mTORC1 signaling was partially prevented by treatment with U0126 (a selective inhibitor of MEK1/2) or BIX-02189 (a selective inhibitor of MEK5) and completely blocked with BIM-I (a selective inhibitor of upstream PKC). TSC2 phosphorylation at Ser664 (an ERK-dependent phosphorylation site) was prevented with U0126, and BIM-I treatment blocked PMA-induced phosphorylation of TSC2 at multiple residues (Ser664, Ser939, and Thr1462). Overexpression of Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb), a downstream target of TSC2, and an mTORC1 activator, was sufficient to activate mTORC1 signaling. We also identified that PMA-induced activation of mTORC1 signaling was significantly inhibited in the absence of Rheb with siRNA knockdown. These observations demonstrate that the PKC/MEK/ERK-dependent activation of mTORC1 is mediated through TSC2 phosphorylation and its downstream target Rheb in C2C12 myoblasts.