Monosodium glutamate induces tsc1 gene expression in fission yeast

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a disease of cellular migration and proliferation that produces hamartomas (benign tumors or malignant cancers affecting the brain and skin) and also involves the eyes, lungs, kidneys, and heart in patterns that can vary throughout life. TSC is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease. Alterations in the TSC1 and TSC2 proteins that form the TSC complex are among the factors that cause the emergence of this disease. TSC1 and TSC2 proteins are the suppressors on the mTOR signaling pathway. The health risks of monosodium glutamate, the most commonly used food additive today, are still a controversial issue. However, there are studies revealing that monosodium glutamate has a negative effect on cell proliferation. In the present study, parental and tsc1∆ mutant fission yeast cells were used and the effects of monosodium glutamate on tsc1 gene expression, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were investigated. It was observed that 8 mg/mL monosodium glutamate caused an increase in the expression of the tsc1 gene. It was concluded that monosodium glutamate may disrupt cell homeostasis and affect cell division and apoptosis processes via the mTOR pathway, depending on the increase in the expression of the tsc1 gene.