Akt Phosphorylation and Regulation of Transketolase Is a Nodal Point for Amino Acid Control of Purine Synthesis

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway integrates environmental clues to regulate cell growth and survival. We showed previously that depriving cells of a single essential amino acid rapidly and reversibly arrests purine synthesis. Here we demonstrate that amino acids via mTORC2 and IκB kinase regulate Akt activity, and Akt association and phosphorylation of transketolase (TKT), a key enzyme of the non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Akt phosphorylates TKT on Thr(382), markedly enhancing enzyme activity and increasing carbon flow through the non-oxidative PPP, thereby increasing purine synthesis. Mice fed a lysine-deficient diet for two days show decreased Akt activity, TKT activity, and purine synthesis in multiple organs. These results provide a new mechanism whereby Akt coordinates amino acid availability with glucose utilization, purine synthesis, and RNA and DNA synthesis