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mTOR: from growth signal integration to cancer, diabetes and ageing

Roberto Zoncu1, Alejo Efeyan, David M Sabatini

  • 1Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Nine Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.

Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology
|December 16, 2010
PubMed

Insights

The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway links nutrient availability to cell growth. Understanding mTOR signaling is key to diseases like cancer, diabetes, and aging.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway is a central regulator of cell growth and division in eukaryotes.
  • TOR integrates signals of energy, nutrient, and stress levels, and growth factors in metazoans.
  • Mammalian TOR complexes (mTORC1 and mTORC2) regulate key kinases like S6 kinase (S6K) and Akt.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms and diverse functions of the TOR signaling pathway.
  • To highlight the critical role of mTOR in the pathogenesis of major diseases.

Main Methods:

  • The abstract does not specify methods.

Main Results:

  • The abstract does not specify results.

Conclusions:

  • Advances in understanding mTOR signaling have revealed its crucial involvement in the onset and progression of diabetes, cancer, and aging.

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