Protein-carbohydrate ingestion alters Vps34 cellular localization independent of changes in kinase activity in human skeletal muscle

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) regulates cell size and growth in response to nutrients, however, the mechanisms by which nutrient levels are sensed by mTORC1 in human skeletal muscle are yet to be fully elucidated. The Class III PI3Kinase Vps34 has recently been proposed as a sensor essential for mTORC1 activation following nutrient stimulation. We therefore investigated the effects of increasing nutrient availability through protein−carbohydrate (PRO−CHO) feeding on Vps34 kinase activity and cellular localization in human skeletal muscle. Eight young, healthy males (age − 21 ±0.5yrs, mean ±SEM) ingested a PRO−CHO beverage containing 20/44/1g PRO/CHO/FAT respectively, with skeletal muscle biopsies obtained at baseline and 1h and 3h post-feeding. PRO−CHO feeding did not alter Vps34 kinase activity, but did stimulate Vps34 translocation toward the cell periphery (PRE (mean±SEM) − 0.273±0.021, 1h − 0.347±0.022, Pearsons Coefficient (r)) where it co−localized with mTOR (PRE − 0.312±0.018, 1h − 0.348±0.024, Pearsons Coefficient (r))). These alterations occurred in parallel to an increase in S6K1 kinase activity − 941±164% of PRE at 1h post-feeding). Subsequent in vitro experiments in C2C12 and human primary myotubes displayed no effect of the Vps34−specific inhibitor SAR405 on mTORC1 signalling responses to elevated nutrient availability. Therefore, in summary, PRO−CHO ingestion does not increase Vps34 activity in human skeletal muscle, whilst pharmacological inhibition of Vps34 does not prevent nutrient stimulation of mTORC1 in vitro. However, PRO−CHO ingestion promotes Vps34 translocation to the cell periphery, enabling Vps34 to associate with mTOR. Therefore, our data suggests that interaction between Vps34 and mTOR, rather than changes in Vps34 activity per se may be involved in PRO−CHO activation of mTORC1 in human skeletal muscle.