Figure 7.

A schematic drawing that illustrates the cascade of events in mTORC1-mediated F-actin reorganization at the BTB via rpS6 downstream. rpS6 activated via phosphorylation by mTORC1 and S6K (ribosomal S6 kinase, such as p70 S6K) down-regulates the expression of p-Akt1-S473 and p-AKt2-S474, which in turn activates the Arp2/3 complex via an increase in N-WASP-Arp2/3 association, as well as changes in the localization of the Arp2/3 complex in the Sertoli cell epithelium. This, thus, induces changes in the organization of actin microfilaments at the BTB, causing BTB remodeling. This hypothesis is supported by findings in this report.