Regulation of EGF-stimulated activation of the PI-3K/AKT pathway by exocyst-mediated exocytosis

The phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI-3K)/AKT cell survival pathway is an important pathway activated by EGFR signaling. Here we show, that in addition to previously described critical components of this pathway, i.e., the docking protein Gab1, the PI-3K/AKT pathway in epithelial cells is regulated by the exocyst complex, which is a vesicle tether that is essential for exocytosis. Using live-cell imaging, we demonstrate that PI(3,4,5)P(3) levels fluctuate at the membrane on a minutes time scale and that these fluctuations are associated with local PI(3,4,5)P(3) increases at sites where recycling vesicles undergo exocytic fusion. Supporting a role for exocytosis in PI(3,4,5)P(3) generation, acute promotion of exocytosis by optogenetically driving exocyst-mediated vesicle tethering up-regulates PI(3,4,5)P(3) production and AKT activation. Conversely, acute inhibition of exocytosis using Endosidin2, a small-molecule inhibitor of the exocyst subunit Exo70 (also designated EXOC7), or inhibition of exocyst function by siRNA-mediated knockdown of the exocyst subunit Sec15 (EXOC6), impairs PI(3,4,5)P(3) production and AKT activation induced by EGF stimulation of epithelial cells. Moreover, prolonged inhibition of EGF signaling by EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors results in spontaneous reactivation of AKT without a concomitant relief of EGFR inhibition. However, this reactivation can be negated by acutely inhibiting the exocyst. These experiments demonstrate that exocyst-mediated exocytosis—by regulating PI(3,4,5)P(3) levels at the plasma membrane—subserves activation of the PI-3K/AKT pathway by EGFR in epithelial cells.