A multiprotein signaling complex sustains AKT and mTOR/S6K activity necessary for the survival of cancer cells undergoing stress

Abstract

Cancer cells, both within a developing tumor and during metastatic spread, encounter many stresses that require adaptive mechanisms to survive and maintain malignant progression. Here we describe a signaling complex involving the small GTPase Cdc42 and Dock7, a Cdc42/Rac GEF and unique Cdc42-effector, that has a previously unappreciated role in regulating AKT, mTOR, and other mTOR signaling and regulatory partners including the TSC1/TCS2 complex and S6K during serum starvation. Dock7 is highly expressed in triple-negative breast cancers and is essential for the malignant properties in nutrient-deprived growth conditions of several cancer cell lines. We find that Dock7 interacts with phosphorylated AKT to maintain a low, but critical activation of a rapamycin-sensitive and Raptor-independent mTORC1-like activity required for survival during nutrient stress. Following the knock-out of Dock7 from cancer cells, interactions between AKT and the phosphatase PHLPP increased while phosphorylation of AKT at Ser473 decreased, suggesting Dock7 protects AKT from dephosphorylation. The DHR1 domain of Dock7, previously of unknown function, is responsible for maintaining AKT Ser473 phosphorylation during serum starvation through an interaction requiring its C2-like motif. Together, these findings indicate that Dock7 protects and maintains the phosphorylation of AKT to sustain a tonic mTOR/S6K activity in cancer cells necessary for their resistance to anoikis and to prevent them from undergoing apoptosis during stressful conditions.