The mammalian target of rapamycin pathway and its role in molecular nutrition regulation

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a protein serine-threonine kinase that functions as a central element in signaling pathway involved in control of cell growth and proliferation. mTOR exists in at least two distinct multi-protein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. mTOR kinase controls the translation machinery, in response to nutrients and growth factors, via activation of p70 ribosomal S6 kinase and inhibition of eukaryotic initiation factor-4E-binding protein. In this report, we review the mTOR signaling pathway and its interaction with food intake, insulin resistance, lifespan and adipogenic regulation during the molecular nutrition regulation.