Abstract
$p70^{s6k}$ lies on a $p21^{ras}$-independent signalling pathway and plays an important role in mitogenesis. Activation is associated with phosphorylation at multiple sites, four of which lie in an autoinhibitory region. The immunosuppressant rapamycin induces $p70^{s6k}$ inactivation through dephosphorylation of a second set of mitogen-induced sites. Here we identify these sites as $T_{229}$, $T_{389}$, and $S_{404}$. $T_{229}$ resides in the "T loop" of the catalytic domain, an essential phosphorylation site in other kinases. However, $p70^{s6k}$ inactivation by rapamycin most closely parallels $T_{389}$ dephosphorylation. Mutation of $T_{389}$ to alanine ablates kinase activity, whereas mutation to glutamic acid confers constitutive kinase activity and rapamycin resistance. indicating an essential role for phosphorylation at this site. $T_{389}$ resides in an unusual hydrophobic motif, not previously noted, between the catalytic and autoinhibitory domains. The importance of this site, and surrounding motif, is emphasized by its conservation in other kinases including homologues of $p70^{s6k}$ derived from such distantly related organisms as yeast and plant.
