Rheb is essential for murine development

  • Susanna M.I. Goorden
  • , Marianne Hoogeveen-Westerveld
  • , Caroline Cheng
  • , Geeske M. van Woerden
  • , Melika Mozaffari
  • , Laura Post
  • , Henricus J. Duckers
  • , Mark Nellist
  • , Ype Elgersma*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) couples growth factor signaling to activation of the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1). To study its role in mammals, we generated a Rheb knockout mouse. In contrast to mTOR or regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (Raptor) mutants, the inner cell mass of Rheb-/- embryos differentiated normally. Nevertheless, Rheb-/- embryos died around midgestation, most likely due to impaired development of the cardiovascular system. Rheb-/- embryonic fibroblasts showed decreased TORC1 activity, were smaller, and showed impaired proliferation. Rheb heterozygosity extended the life span of tuberous sclerosis complex 1-deficient (Tsc1-/-) embryos, indicating that there is a genetic interaction between the Tsc1 and Rheb genes in mouse.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1672-1678
Number of pages7
JournalMolecular and Cellular Biology
Volume31
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2011
Externally publishedYes

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