Folliculin encoded by the BHD gene interacts with a binding protein, FNIP1, and AMPK, and is involved in AMPK and mTOR signaling

M Baba, SB Hong, N Sharma… - Proceedings of the …, 2006 - National Acad Sciences
M Baba, SB Hong, N Sharma, MB Warren, ML Nickerson, A Iwamatsu, D Esposito…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2006National Acad Sciences
Birt–Hogg–Dubé syndrome, a hamartoma disorder characterized by benign tumors of the
hair follicle, lung cysts, and renal neoplasia, is caused by germ-line mutations in the BHD
(FLCN) gene, which encodes a tumor-suppressor protein, folliculin (FLCN), with unknown
function. The tumor-suppressor proteins encoded by genes responsible for several other
hamartoma syndromes, LKB1, TSC1/2, and PTEN, have been shown to be involved in the
mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Here, we report the …
Birt–Hogg–Dubé syndrome, a hamartoma disorder characterized by benign tumors of the hair follicle, lung cysts, and renal neoplasia, is caused by germ-line mutations in the BHD(FLCN) gene, which encodes a tumor-suppressor protein, folliculin (FLCN), with unknown function. The tumor-suppressor proteins encoded by genes responsible for several other hamartoma syndromes, LKB1, TSC1/2, and PTEN, have been shown to be involved in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Here, we report the identification of the FLCN-interacting protein, FNIP1, and demonstrate its interaction with 5′ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key molecule for energy sensing that negatively regulates mTOR activity. FNIP1 was phosphorylated by AMPK, and its phosphorylation was reduced by AMPK inhibitors, which resulted in reduced FNIP1 expression. AMPK inhibitors also reduced FLCN phosphorylation. Moreover, FLCN phosphorylation was diminished by rapamycin and amino acid starvation and facilitated by FNIP1 overexpression, suggesting that FLCN may be regulated by mTOR and AMPK signaling. Our data suggest that FLCN, mutated in Birt–Hogg–Dubé syndrome, and its interacting partner FNIP1 may be involved in energy and/or nutrient sensing through the AMPK and mTOR signaling pathways.
National Acad Sciences