Dataset Information

ATR promotes mTORC1 activity via de novo cholesterol synthesis

ABSTRACT: DNA damage and cellular metabolism exhibit a complex interplay characterized by bidirectional feedback mechanisms. Key mediators of the DNA damage response and cellular metabolic regulation include Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) and the mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1), respectively. Previous studies have established ATR as a regulatory upstream factor of mTORC1 during replication stress; however, the precise mechanisms by which mTORC1 is activated in this context remain poorly defined. Additionally, the activity of this signaling axis in unperturbed cells has not been extensively investigated. Here, we demonstrate that ATR promotes mTORC1 activity across various cellular models under basal conditions. This effect is particularly enhanced in cells following the loss of p16, which we have previously associated with hyperactivation of mTORC1 signaling and here found increased ATR activity. Mechanistically, we found that ATR promotes de novo cholesterol synthesis and mTORC1 activation through the upregulation of lanosterol synthase (LSS), independently of both CHK1 and the TSC complex. Furthermore, the attenuation of mTORC1 activity resulting from ATR inhibition was rescued by supplementation with lanosterol or cholesterol in multiple cellular con-texts. This restoration corresponded with enhanced localization of mTOR to the lysosome. Collectively, our findings link ATR and mTORC1 signaling through the modulation of cholesterol metabolism.

INSTRUMENT(S): timsTOF Pro 2

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Melanocyte, Cell Culture

DISEASE(S): Skin Cancer

SUBMITTER: Cassandra Happe

LAB HEAD: Katherine Aird

PROVIDER: PXD061265 | Pride | 2025-04-01

REPOSITORIES: Pride

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Project description:The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway integrates diverse environmental inputs, including immune signals and metabolic cues, to direct T cell fate decisions1. Activation of mTOR, comprised of mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes, delivers an obligatory signal for proper activation and differentiation of effector CD4+ T cells2,3, whereas in the regulatory T cell (Treg) compartment, the Akt-mTOR axis is widely acknowledged as a crucial negative regulator of Treg de novo differentiation4-8 and population expansion9. However, whether mTOR signaling affects the homeostasis and function of Tregs remains largely unexplored. Here we show that mTORC1 signaling is a pivotal positive determinant of Treg function. Tregs have elevated steady-state mTORC1 activity compared to naïve T cells. Signals via T cell receptor (TCR) and IL-2 provide major inputs for mTORC1 activation, which in turn programs suppressive function of Tregs. Disruption of mTORC1 through Treg-specific deletion of the essential component Raptor leads to a profound loss of Treg suppressive activity in vivo and development of a fatal early-onset inflammatory disorder. Mechanistically, Raptor/mTORC1 signaling in Tregs promotes cholesterol/lipid metabolism, with the mevalonate pathway particularly important for coordinating Treg proliferation and upregulation of suppressive molecules CTLA-4 and ICOS to establish Treg functional competency. In contrast, mTORC1 does not directly impact the expression of Foxp3 or anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines in Tregs, suggesting a non-conventional mechanism for Treg functional regulation. Lastly, we provide evidence that mTORC1 maintains Treg function partly through inhibiting the mTORC2 pathway. Our results demonstrate that mTORC1 acts as a fundamental ‘rheostat’ in Tregs to link immunological signals from TCR and IL-2 to lipogenic pathways and functional fitness, and highlight a central role of metabolic programming of Treg suppressive activity in immune homeostasis and tolerance. We used microarrays to explore the gene expression profiles differentially expressed in regulatory T-cells from wild-type and CD4(cre) x Raptor(fl/fl) mice