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Restraint to Induce Stress in Mice and Rats
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Stress and mTORture signaling

J H Reiling1, D M Sabatini

  • 1Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142-1479, USA.

Oncogene
|October 17, 2006
PubMed

Insights

The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway regulates cell growth in response to environmental stress. Uncontrolled TOR signaling is linked to diseases like cancer and diabetes, highlighting its ancient role in stress surveillance.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway is a conserved signaling module crucial for regulating cell growth.
  • TOR signaling is influenced by environmental cues like nutrients, hypoxia, DNA damage, and osmotic stress.
  • Dysregulated TOR signaling in mammals is implicated in diseases such as inflammation, cancer, and diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize recent advancements in understanding the TOR signaling pathway.
  • To emphasize the interplay between stress conditions and insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling via TOR.
  • To highlight the ancient role of TOR in sensing and responding to environmental stress.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on TOR signaling.
  • Analysis of studies investigating stress responses in relation to TOR.
  • Examination of the connection between insulin/IGF signaling and TOR under stress.

Main Results:

  • TOR pathway is central to cell growth and homeostasis, responding to diverse environmental factors.
  • Evidence suggests an ancient role for TOR in monitoring and adapting to stress conditions.
  • Stress conditions significantly impact insulin/IGF signaling pathways that converge on TOR.

Conclusions:

  • The TOR pathway is a critical regulator of cell growth and organismal homeostasis.
  • Understanding TOR signaling under stress is vital for addressing diseases linked to its dysregulation.
  • Further research into the stress-mediated regulation of insulin/IGF/TOR signaling is warranted.

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