Tissue-specific expression differences in Ras-related GTP-binding proteins in male rats

The protein kinase Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) in Complex 1 (mTORC1) is regulated in part by the Ras-related GTP-binding proteins (Rag GTPases). Rag GTPases form a heterodimeric complex consisting of either RagA or RagB associated with either RagC or RagD and act to localize mTORC1 to the lysosomal membrane. Until recently, RagA and RagB were thought to be functionally redundant, as were RagC and RagD. However, recent research suggests that the various isoforms differentially activate mTORC1. Here, the mRNA expression and protein abundance of the Rag GTPases was compared across male rat skeletal muscle, heart, liver, kidney, and brain. Whereas mRNA expression of RagA was higher than RagB in nearly all tissues studied, RagB protein abundance was higher than RagA in all tissues besides skeletal muscle. RagC mRNA expression was more abundant or equal to RagD mRNA, and RagD protein was more abundant than RagC protein in all tissues. Moreover, the proportion of RagB in the short isoform was greater than the long in liver, whereas the opposite was true in brain. These results serve to further elucidate Rag GTPase expression and offer potential explanations for the differential responses to amino acids that are observed in different tissues.