Letter abstract
Nature Cell Biology 5, 559 - 566 (2003)
Published online: 27 May 2003 | doi:10.1038/ncb995
Rheb is an essential regulator of S6K in controlling cell growth in Drosophila
Hugo Stocker1, Thomas Radimerski2, Benno Schindelholz3, Franz Wittwer1, Priyanka Belawat1, Pierre Daram3, Sebastian Breuer3, George Thomas2 & Ernst Hafen1
Understanding the mechanisms through which multicellular organisms regulate cell, organ and body growth is of relevance to developmental biology and to research on growth-related diseases such as cancer. Here we describe a new effector in growth control, the small GTPase Rheb (Ras homologue enriched in brain). Mutations in the Drosophila melanogaster Rheb gene were isolated as growth-inhibitors, whereas overexpression of Rheb promoted cell growth. Our genetic and biochemical analyses suggest that Rheb functions downstream of the tumour suppressors Tsc1 (tuberous sclerosis 1)–Tsc2 in the TOR (target of rapamycin) signalling pathway to control growth, and that a major effector of Rheb function is ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K).
- Zoologisches Institut der Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
- The Genetics Company, Inc., Wagistrasse 27, 8952 Zürich-Schlieren, Switzerland.
Correspondence to: Ernst Hafen1 e-mail: hafen@zool.unizh.ch
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