Hyperactivation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling by a gain-of-function mutant of the Rheb GTPase.

Gain-of-function mutants of Ras and Rho family small GTPases have proven to be important tools in analyzing signaling downstream of these small GTPases. The Ras-related GTPase Rheb has emerged as a key player downstream of TSC1-2 in activating signaling to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) effectors of cell growth such as S6K and 4E-BP1. The TSC1-2 tumor suppressor complex has been shown to act as a RhebGAP, converting Rheb from a GTP-bound to a GDP-bound form. Here we report the identification of a mutant Rheb (S16HRheb) that exhibits gain-of-function properties. At endogenous levels of expression S16HRheb exhibits increased GTP loading in vivo and is resistant to TSC1-2 GAP in vitro. Compared with wild-type Rheb, S16HRheb is more active at promoting the phosphorylation of the mTOR effectors S6K1 and 4E-BP1. Thus S16HRheb will help to identify proximal signaling events downstream of Rheb and allow potential Rheb-independent functions downstream of TSC1-2 to be investigated.