Translational control is a crucial component of cancer development and progression. Eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E mediates eIF4F association with the mRNA 5' cap structure to stimulate cap-dependent translation initiation. The eIF4E-binding protein, 4E-BP1, regulates cap-dependent translation through its phosphorylation at multiple sites. It has been described that some human carcinomas...

Metformin inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway, which is frequently upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Metformin has also been shown to induce apoptosis in this cancer. Here, we investigate whether metformin-induced apoptosis in HCC is mediated by the downstream mTORC1 effectors eukaryotic initiation factor 4E and (eIF4E)-binding proteins (...

PURPOSE The translational repressor 4E-BP1 interacts with the mRNA cap-binding protein eIF4E and thereby promotes cap-independent translation of mRNAs encoding proteins that contribute to diabetic retinopathy. Interaction of 4E-BP1 with eIF4E is enhanced in the retina of diabetic rodents, at least in part, as a result of elevated 4E-BP1 protein expression. In the present study, we examined the ...

The phosphorylation states of three proteins implicated in the action of insulin on translation were investigated, i.e., 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70 S6k ), eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E, and the eIF-4E binding protein 4E-BP1. Addition of insulin caused a stimulation of protein synthesis in L6 myoblasts in culture, an effect that was blocked by inhibitors of phosphatidylinosi...

To determine whether inhibition of either the ribosomal p70 S6 kinase or eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E pathways downstream of the mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR, contributes to rapamycin-induced growth arrest, clones of Rh30 rhabdomyosarcoma cells were selected for rapamycin resistance. Expression of c-Myc and anchorage-independent growth were enhanced in resistant cells. Resistanc...

The eIF4E-binding proteins (4E-BPs) repress translation initiation by preventing eIF4F complex formation. Of the three mammalian 4E-BPs, only 4E-BP2 is enriched in the mammalian brain and plays an important role in synaptic plasticity and learning and memory formation. Here we describe asparagine deamidation as a brain-specific posttranslational modification of 4E-BP2. Deamidation is the sponta...

Transient brain ischemia induces an inhibition of translational rates and causes delayed neuronal death in selective regions and cognitive deficits, whereas these effects do not occur in resistant areas. The translational repressor eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E-binding protein-2 (4E-BP2) specifically binds to eIF4E and is critical in the control of protein synthesis. To link neuronal de...

Enzastaurin (LY317615.HCl) is currently in a phase III registration trial for diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma and numerous phase II clinical trials. Enzastaurin suppresses angiogenesis and induces apoptosis in multiple human tumor cell lines by inhibiting protein kinase C (PKC) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway signaling. PI3K/AKT pathway signaling liberates eukaryotic translation ...

BACKGROUND The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) controls the translation machinery via activation of S6 kinases 1 and 2 (S6K1/2) and inhibition of the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) binding proteins 1, 2, and 3 (4E-BP1/2/3). S6K1 and 4E-BP1 are regulated by nutrient-sensing and mitogen-activated pathways. The molecular basis of mTOR regulation of S6K1 and 4E-BP1 remains controversi...