Exp Neurobiol.  2019 Apr;28(2):172-182. 10.5607/en.2019.28.2.172.

Farnesylation-defective Rheb Increases Axonal Length Independently of mTORC1 Activity in Embryonic Primary Neurons

• Choi S
• Sadra A
• Kang J
• Ryu JR
• Kim JH
• Sun W
• Huh SO

• KMID: 2450212
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5607/en.2019.28.2.172

Abstract

Rheb (Ras homolog enriched in the brain) is a small GTPase protein that plays an important role in cell signaling for development of the neocortex through modulation of mTORC1 (mammalian-target-of-rapamycin-complex-1) activity. mTORC1 is known to control various biological processes including axonal growth in forming complexes at the lysosomal membrane compartment. As such, anchoring of Rheb on the lysosomal membrane via the farnesylation of Rheb at its cysteine residue (C180) is required for its promotion of mTOR activity. To test the significance of Rheb farnesylation, we overexpressed a farnesylation mutant form of Rheb, Rheb C180S, in primary rat hippocampal neurons and also in mouse embryonic neurons using in utero electroporation. Interestingly, we found that Rheb C180S maintained promotional effect of axonal elongation similar to the wild-type Rheb in both test systems. On the other hand, Rheb C180S failed to exhibit the multiple axon-promoting effect which is found in wild-type Rheb. The levels of phospho-4EBP1, a downstream target of mTORC1, were surprisingly increased in Rheb C180S transfected neurons, despite the levels of phosphorylated mTOR being significantly decreased compared to control vector transfectants. A specific mTORC1 inhibitor, rapamycin, also could not completely abolish axon elongation characteristics of Rheb C180S in transfected cells. Our data suggests that Rheb in a non-membrane compartment can promote the axonal elongation via phosphorylation of 4EBP1 and through an mTORC1-independent pathway.

Keyword

Axons; mTOR protein; Rheb protein; Protein farnesylation

MeSH Terms

Animals
Axons*
Biological Processes
Cysteine
Electroporation
GTP Phosphohydrolases
Hand
Membranes
Mice
Neocortex
Neurons*
Phosphorylation
Prenylation
Protein Prenylation
Rats
Sirolimus
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
Cysteine
GTP Phosphohydrolases
Sirolimus
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases