Data from mTORC2 Suppresses GSK3-Dependent Snail Degradation to Positively Regulate Cancer Cell Invasion and Metastasis

mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) positively regulates cell invasion and metastasis by enhancing translation of Snail. A connection between mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) and cell invasion and metastasis has also been suggested, yet the underlying biology or mechanism is largely unknown and thus is the focus of this study. Inhibition of mTOR with both mTOR inhibitors and knockdown of key components of mTORC, including rictor, Sin1, and raptor, decreased Snail protein levels. Inhibition of mTOR enhanced the rate of Snail degradation, which could be rescued by inhibition of the proteasome. Critically, inhibition of mTORC2 (by knocking down rictor) but not mTORC1 (by knocking down raptor) enhanced Snail degradation. Therefore, only mTORC2 inhibition induces Snail proteasomal degradation, resulting in eventual Snail reduction. Interestingly, inhibition of GSK3 but not SCF/β-TrCP rescued the Snail reduction induced by mTOR inhibitors, suggesting GSK3-dependent, but SCF/β-TrCP–independent proteasomal degradation of Snail. Accordingly, mTOR inhibitors elevated E-cadherin levels and suppressed cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo. Collectively, this study reveals that mTORC2 positively regulates Snail stability to control cell invasion and metastasis.

These findings delineate a new regulation mechanism of Snail, an important master regulator of epithelial–mesenchymal transition and invasion in cancers.