Ait1 regulates TORC1 signaling and localization in budding yeast

Abstract

The target of rapamycin complex I (TORC1) regulates cell growth and metabolism in eukaryotes. Previous studies have shown that nitrogen and amino acid signals activate TORC1 via the highly conserved small GTPases, Gtr1/2 (RagA/C in humans), and the GTPase activating complex SEAC/GATOR. However, it remains unclear if, and how, other proteins/pathways regulate TORC1 in simple eukaryotes like yeast. Here, we report that the previously unstudied GPCR-like protein, Ait1, binds to TORC1-Gtr1/2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and holds TORC1 around the vacuole during log-phase growth. Then, during amino acid starvation, Ait1 inhibits TORC1 via Gtr1/2 using a loop that resembles the RagA/C-binding domain in the human protein SLC38A9. Importantly, Ait1 is only found in the Saccharomycetaceae/codaceae, two closely related families of yeast that have lost the ancient TORC1 regulators Rheb and TSC1/2. Thus, the TORC1 circuit found in the Saccharomycetaceae/codaceae, and likely other simple eukaryotes, has undergone significant rewiring during evolution.