Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants
07:38

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants

Published on: June 6, 2025

Expanding mTOR signaling

Qian Yang1, Kun-Liang Guan

  • 1Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.

Cell Research
|August 8, 2007
PubMed

Insights

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) controls cell growth and is implicated in cancer. Understanding mTOR complexes and their regulation is crucial for developing targeted anti-cancer drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is vital for cell growth and survival.
  • mTOR integrates intracellular and extracellular signals, including growth factors, nutrients, and stress.
  • Dysregulation of mTOR signaling is linked to human tumorigenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the functions and regulation of mTOR.
  • To discuss mTOR-associated proteins and their distinct physiological roles.
  • To highlight the importance of understanding mTOR mechanisms for anti-cancer drug development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of mTOR functions and regulation.
  • Analysis of mTOR-associated proteins and complex formation.
  • Discussion of pathophysiological consequences of mTOR dysregulation.

Main Results:

  • mTOR forms distinct complexes with different proteins, leading to diverse cellular functions.
  • Identification of mTOR-associated proteins expands the known roles of mTOR.
  • mTOR regulation is complex, involving integration of multiple signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Precise understanding of mTOR molecular mechanisms is critical for targeted cancer therapy.
  • Further research into mTOR complexes and their regulation will guide anti-cancer drug development.
  • mTOR dysregulation has significant implications in various pathophysiological conditions.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Primary Mouse Hepatocytes for Nascent Protein Synthesis Analysis by Non-radioactive L-azidohomoalanine Labeling Method08:04

Isolation of Primary Mouse Hepatocytes for Nascent Protein Synthesis Analysis by Non-radioactive L-azidohomoalanine Labeling Method

Published on: October 23, 2018

Monitoring eIF4F Assembly by Measuring eIF4E-eIF4G Interaction in Live Cells08:47

Monitoring eIF4F Assembly by Measuring eIF4E-eIF4G Interaction in Live Cells

Published on: May 1, 2020

Related Concept Videos

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...