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Title: Computational analysis of an autophagy/translation switch based on mutual inhibition of MTORC1 and ULK1

Journal Article · · PLoS ONE
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Univ. of Warsaw, Warsaw (Poland)
  2. Van Andel Research Inst. (VARI), Grand Rapids, MI (United States)
  3. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  4. Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Warsaw (Poland)

We constructed a mechanistic, computational model for regulation of (macro)autophagy and protein synthesis (at the level of translation). The model was formulated to study the system-level consequences of interactions among the following proteins: two key components of MTOR complex 1 (MTORC1), namely the protein kinase MTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) and the scaffold protein RPTOR; the autophagy-initiating protein kinase ULK1; and the multimeric energy-sensing AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Inputs of the model include intrinsic AMPK kinase activity, which is taken as an adjustable surrogate parameter for cellular energy level or AMP:ATP ratio, and rapamycin dose, which controls MTORC1 activity. Outputs of the model include the phosphorylation level of the translational repressor EIF4EBP1, a substrate of MTORC1, and the phosphorylation level of AMBRA1 (activating molecule in BECN1-regulated autophagy), a substrate of ULK1 critical for autophagosome formation. The model incorporates reciprocal regulation of mTORC1 and ULK1 by AMPK, mutual inhibition of MTORC1 and ULK1, and ULK1-mediated negative feedback regulation of AMPK. Through analysis of the model, we find that these processes may be responsible, depending on conditions, for graded responses to stress inputs, for bistable switching between autophagy and protein synthesis, or relaxation oscillations, comprising alternating periods of autophagy and protein synthesis. A sensitivity analysis indicates that the prediction of oscillatory behavior is robust to changes of the parameter values of the model. The model provides testable predictions about the behavior of the AMPK-MTORC1-ULK1 network, which plays a central role in maintaining cellular energy and nutrient homeostasis.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1190538
Journal Information:
PLoS ONE, Vol. 10, Issue 3; ISSN 1932-6203
Publisher:
Public Library of ScienceCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 29 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (20)

ADP is the dominant controller of AMP-activated protein kinase activity dynamics in skeletal muscle during exercise posted_content December 2019
Relaxation oscillations and hierarchy of feedbacks in MAPK signaling journal January 2017
ADP is the dominant controller of AMP-activated protein kinase activity dynamics in skeletal muscle during exercise journal July 2020
Prediction of Optimal Drug Schedules for Controlling Autophagy journal February 2019
Milk—A Nutrient System of Mammalian Evolution Promoting mTORC1-Dependent Translation journal July 2015
Quantitative assessment of cell fate decision between autophagy and apoptosis posted_content April 2017
Prediction of Optimal Drug Schedules for Controlling Autophagy preprint January 2018
ATG13 dynamics in non-selective autophagy and mitophagy: insights from live imaging studies and mathematical modelling posted_content September 2019
Ribosome profiling reveals translational regulation of mammalian cells in response to hypoxic stress journal August 2017
Peeking Inside the Black Box: A New Kind of Scientific Visualization journal November 2018
A Double Negative Feedback Loop between mTORC1 and AMPK Kinases Guarantees Precise Autophagy Induction upon Cellular Stress journal November 2019
A Systems Biology Roadmap to Decode mTOR Control System in Cancer journal September 2019
Breaking Therapy Resistance: An Update on Oncolytic Newcastle Disease Virus for Improvements of Cancer Therapy journal August 2019
Quantitative assessment of cell fate decision between autophagy and apoptosis journal December 2017
Mechanisms of Acupuncture Therapy for Cerebral Ischemia: an Evidence-Based Review of Clinical and Animal Studies on Cerebral Ischemia journal May 2017
P2RX7-MAPK1/2-SP1 axis inhibits MTOR independent HSPB1-mediated astroglial autophagy journal May 2018
AICAR and nicotinamide treatment synergistically augment the proliferation and attenuate senescence-associated changes in mesenchymal stromal cells journal February 2020
Feedbacks, Bifurcations, and Cell Fate Decision-Making in the p53 System journal February 2016
Electroacupuncture protects against ischemic stroke by reducing autophagosome formation and inhibiting autophagy through the mTORC1-ULK1 complex-Beclin1 pathway journal December 2015
Aging: A cell source limiting factor in tissue engineering journal October 2019

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