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TOR signaling in invertebrates

Alexandre Soulard1, Adiel Cohen, Michael N Hall

  • 1Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|September 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) pathway regulates cell growth. This review covers recent advances in TOR signaling across diverse invertebrate models like yeasts, plants, worms, and insects.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Signaling
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) is a crucial protein kinase.
  • TOR acts as a central regulator of cell growth.
  • TOR signaling is conserved across species and responds to environmental cues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in TOR signaling.
  • Focus on invertebrate model organisms.
  • Highlight TORC1 and TORC2 complex functions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research.
  • Analysis of studies in yeasts, plants, worms, and insects.
  • Synthesis of findings on TOR pathway regulation.

Main Results:

  • TOR signaling networks are highly conserved in invertebrates.
  • Nutrient, hormone, and stress inputs modulate TOR activity.
  • Distinct roles of TORC1 and TORC2 are evident in various models.

Conclusions:

  • Invertebrate models provide valuable insights into TOR biology.
  • TOR pathway is essential for coordinating growth with environmental conditions.
  • Further research in these models will elucidate complex regulatory mechanisms.

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