Growth-factor dependent expression of the translationally controlled tumour protein TCTP is regulated through the PI3-K/Akt/mTORC1 signalling pathway

• TCTP is often overexpressed in cancers, where it is associated with a poor outcome.
• We studied the signalling pathway involved in serum-induction of TCTP synthesis.
• mTOR kinase inhibitors prevent growth-associated increase in TCTP mRNA translation.
• The upstream effectors of mTORC1, Akt and TSC-2, also regulate TCTP expression.
• Activation of eIF4E/inhibition of 4E-BP1 is important for efficient TCTP mRNA translation.

Translationally controlled tumour protein TCTP (gene symbol: TPT1) is a highly-conserved, cyto-protective protein implicated in many physiological and disease processes, in particular cancer, where it is associated with poor patient outcomes. To understand the mechanisms underlying the accumulation of high TCTP levels in cancer cells, we studied the signalling pathways that control translation of TCTP mRNA, which contains a 5′-terminal oligopyrimidine tract (5′-TOP). In HT29 colon cancer cells and in HeLa cells, serum increases the expression of TCTP two- and four-fold, respectively, and this is inhibited by rapamycin or mTOR kinase inhibitors. Polysome profiling and mRNA quantification indicate that these effects occur at the level of mRNA translation. Blocking this pathway upstream of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) by inhibiting Akt also prevented increases in TCTP levels in both HeLa and HT29 colon cancer cells, whereas knockout of TSC2, a negative regulator of mTORC1, led to derepression of TCTP synthesis under serum starvation. Overexpression of eIF4E enhanced the polysomal association of the TCTP mRNA, although it did not protect its translation from inhibition by rapamycin. Conversely, expression of a constitutively-active mutant of the eIF4E inhibitor 4E-BP1, which is normally inactivated by mTORC1, inhibited TCTP mRNA translation in HEK293 cells. Our results demonstrate that TCTP mRNA translation is regulated by signalling through the PI3-K/Akt/mTORC1 pathway. This explains why TCTP levels are frequently increased in cancers, since mTORC1 signalling is hyperactive in ~ 80% of tumours.