mTOR kinase structure, mechanism and regulation

Nature. 2013 May 9;497(7448):217-23. doi: 10.1038/nature12122. Epub 2013 May 1.

Abstract

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a phosphoinositide 3-kinase-related protein kinase, controls cell growth in response to nutrients and growth factors and is frequently deregulated in cancer. Here we report co-crystal structures of a complex of truncated mTOR and mammalian lethal with SEC13 protein 8 (mLST8) with an ATP transition state mimic and with ATP-site inhibitors. The structures reveal an intrinsically active kinase conformation, with catalytic residues and a catalytic mechanism remarkably similar to canonical protein kinases. The active site is highly recessed owing to the FKBP12-rapamycin-binding (FRB) domain and an inhibitory helix protruding from the catalytic cleft. mTOR-activating mutations map to the structural framework that holds these elements in place, indicating that the kinase is controlled by restricted access. In vitro biochemistry shows that the FRB domain acts as a gatekeeper, with its rapamycin-binding site interacting with substrates to grant them access to the restricted active site. Rapamycin-FKBP12 inhibits the kinase by directly blocking substrate recruitment and by further restricting active-site access. The structures also reveal active-site residues and conformational changes that underlie inhibitor potency and specificity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / chemistry
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / chemistry
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Catalytic Domain / drug effects
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Furans / chemistry
  • Furans / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / metabolism
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Magnesium / chemistry
  • Magnesium / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Naphthyridines / chemistry
  • Naphthyridines / metabolism
  • Naphthyridines / pharmacology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / drug effects
  • Purines / chemistry
  • Purines / metabolism
  • Purines / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / chemistry
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / metabolism
  • Sirolimus / chemistry
  • Sirolimus / metabolism
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Tacrolimus Binding Protein 1A / chemistry
  • Tacrolimus Binding Protein 1A / metabolism
  • Tacrolimus Binding Protein 1A / pharmacology
  • mTOR Associated Protein, LST8 Homolog

Substances

  • 9-(6-aminopyridin-3-yl)-1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)benzo(h)(1,6)naphthyridin-2(1H)-one
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Furans
  • Indoles
  • MLST8 protein, human
  • Naphthyridines
  • PI103
  • Purines
  • Pyridines
  • Pyrimidines
  • mTOR Associated Protein, LST8 Homolog
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 70kD, polypeptide 1
  • Tacrolimus Binding Protein 1A
  • PP242
  • Magnesium
  • Sirolimus

Associated data

  • PDB/4JSN
  • PDB/4JSP
  • PDB/4JSV
  • PDB/4JSX
  • PDB/4JT5
  • PDB/4JT6