Cell growth and proliferation are tightly linked to nutrient availability. The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) integrates the presence of growth factors, energy levels, glucose and amino acids to modulate metabolic status and cellular responses1-3. mTORC1 is activated at the surface of lysosomes by the RAG GTPases and the Ragulator complex through a not fully understood mechanism monitoring amino acid availability in the lysosomal lumen and involving the vacuolar H+ -ATPase 4-8. Here we describe the uncharacterized human member 9 of the solute carrier family 38 (SLC38A9) as a lysosomal membrane-resident protein competent in amino acid transport. Extensive functional proteomic analysis established SLC38A9 as an integral part of the Ragulator/RAG GTPases machinery. Gain of SLC38A9 function rendered cells resistant to amino acid withdrawal, while loss of SLC38A9 expression impaired amino acid-induced mTORC1 activation. Thus SLC38A9 is a physical and functional component of the amino acid-sensing machinery that controls the activation of mTOR.

Functions of lysosomes are tightly associated with their position within the cell. Filipek et al. identify the EGF-dependent LAMTOR/Ragulator-BORC interaction as a negative regulator of Arl8b lysosomal recruitment that triggers plus-end directed lysosome movement.

Background: Protein phosphorylation is an important posttranslational modification. Results: Both in planta and when expressed in yeast, the P-type proton pump is phosphorylated at multiple new positions at its terminal regulatory domains. Conclusion: Multiple methods for phosphopeptide enrichment are required for complete phosphosite mapping. Significance: This work provides a surprising example of functional conservation of protein kinase action between plants and yeast.

The performance of two proteomic sample preparation methods, "pseudoshotgun" (PSG) and filter-aided sample preparation (FASP) were compared in terms of the number of identified proteins, representation of cellular component GO (gene ontology) categories in the obtained list of proteins, and the efficiency of both methods in the proteomic analysis of a very low number of cells. Both methods were combined to obtain a proteomic profile of a short-term culture (passage 3) of melanoma cells, established in our laboratory from a human metastatic melanoma lesion. The data revealed that with FASP, usually more proteins are identified than with PSG when analyzing a higher number of cells (≥ 5000/injection), whereas PSG is favorable when analyzing only a very small amount of cells (250-500/injection). PSG and FASP, however, are complementary techniques, as combining both methods further increases the number of identified proteins. Moreover, we show that it is feasible to identify a substantial number of proteins from only 250 cells/injection that is equivalent to 60 ng of protein.

An experimental and computational approach for identification of protein-protein interactions by ex vivo chemical crosslinking and mass spectrometry (CLMS) has been developed that takes advantage of the specific characteristics of cyanurbiotindipropionylsuccinimide (CBDPS), an affinity-tagged isotopically coded mass spectrometry (MS)-cleavable crosslinking reagent. Utilizing this reagent in combination with a crosslinker-specific data-dependent acquisition strategy based on MS2 scans, and a software pipeline designed for integrating crosslinker-specific mass spectral information led to demonstrated improvements in the application of the CLMS technique, in terms of the detection, acquisition, and identification of crosslinker-modified peptides. This approach was evaluated on intact yeast mitochondria, and the results showed that hundreds of unique protein-protein interactions could be identified on an organelle proteome-wide scale. Both known and previously unknown protein-protein interactions were identified. These interactions were assessed based on their known sub-compartmental localizations. Additionally, the identified crosslinking distance constraints are in good agreement with existing structural models of protein complexes involved in the mitochondrial electron transport chain.

The plant plasma membrane proton pump (H ؉ -ATPase) is stimulated by potassium, but it has remained unclear whether potassium is actually transported by the pump or whether it serves other roles. We now show that K ؉ is bound to the proton pump at a site involving Asp 617 in the cytoplasmic phosphorylation domain, from where it is unlikely to be transported. Binding of K ؉ to this site can induce dephosphorylation of the phosphorylated E 1 P reaction cycle intermediate by a mechanism involving Glu 184 in the conserved TGES motif of the pump actuator domain. Our data identify K ؉ as an intrinsic uncoupler of the proton pump and suggest a mechanism for control of the H ؉ /ATP coupling ratio. K ؉ -induced dephosphorylation of E 1 P may serve regulatory purposes and play a role in negative regulation of the transmembrane electrochemical gradient under cellular conditions where E 1 P is accumulating.

Two modes of phloem loading have been proposed, apoplastic and symplastic, depending on the structure of sieve element-companion cell complexes (SE-CCCs) in minor vein phloem. Species are usually classified as either apoplastic or symplastic loaders although the cytology of SE-CCCs in minor veins of the majority of plants indicates that both mechanisms can be simultaneously involved in phloem loading. The functions of structurally different SE-CCCs in minor veins of the stachyose-translocating plant Alonsoa meridionalis were examined. A stachyose synthase gene, AmSTS1, was expressed in intermediary cells but not in the ordinary companion cell of the same vein. In contrast, sucrose transporter AmSUT1 protein was present in ordinary companion cells but not in the neighbouring intermediary cells. These data reveal the principles of phloem sap formation in A. meridionalis and, probably, in many other dicots. The two types of SE-CCCs within one and the same minor vein load different carbohydrates, using contrasting mechanisms for their delivery into the phloem. Lateral sieve pores in the minor vein phloem lead to mixing of the carbohydrates soon after loading. While symplastic and apoplastic pathways can function simultaneously during phloem loading, they are separated at the level of different SE-CCCs combined in phloem endings.

Protein complexes form, dissociate and re-form in order to perform specific cellular functions. In this two-pronged protocol, noncovalent protein complexes are initially isolated by affinity purification for subsequent identification of the components by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS) on a hybrid LTQ Orbitrap Velos. In the second prong of the approach, the affinity-purification strategy includes a chemical cross-linking step to 'freeze' a series of concurrently formed, heterogeneous protein subcomplex species that are visualized by gel electrophoresis. This branch of the methodology amalgamates standard and well-practiced laboratory methods to reveal compositional changes that occur in protein complex architecture. By using mouse N-terminally tagged streptavidin-binding peptide-hemagglutinin-TANK-binding kinase 1 (SH-TBK1), we chemically cross-linked the affinity-purified complex of SH-TBK1 with the homobifunctional lysine-specific reagent bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate (BS(3)), and we separated the resultant protein complexes by denaturation and by silver-stained one- and two-dimensional SDS-PAGE. We observed a range of cross-linked TBK1 complexes of variable pI and M(r) and confirmed them by immunoblotting. LC-MS analysis of in situ-digested cross-linked proteins shows differences in the composition of the TBK1 subcomplexes. The protocol is inherently simple and can be readily extended to the investigation of a range of protein complexes. From cell lysis to data generation by LC-MS, the protocol takes approximately 2.5 to 5.5 d to perform.