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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...
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...
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...
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways01:25

cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways

Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) is an essential second messenger that activates protein kinase A (PKA) and regulates various biological processes. A single epinephrine molecule binds to GPCR and activates several heterotrimeric G proteins, each stimulating multiple adenylyl cyclase, amplifying the signal, and synthesizing large numbers of cAMP molecules. Small changes in cAMP concentration affect PKA activity. The binding of four cAMP molecules induces a conformational change in PKA,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Isolation of Primary Mouse Hepatocytes for Nascent Protein Synthesis Analysis by Non-radioactive L-azidohomoalanine Labeling Method
08:04

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

Published on: October 23, 2018

Evaluation of the nutrient-sensing mTOR pathway.

Sungki Hong1, Aristotle M Mannan, Ken Inoki

  • 1Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Life Sciences Institute, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|November 30, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase activity reflects cellular status. This review details current methods to assess mTOR kinase activity in various experimental contexts.

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A Semi-Quantitative Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) assay for studying Rapamycin/mTOR interaction
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Published on: August 27, 2019

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Last Updated: May 27, 2026

Isolation of Primary Mouse Hepatocytes for Nascent Protein Synthesis Analysis by Non-radioactive L-azidohomoalanine Labeling Method
08:04

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

Published on: October 23, 2018

A Semi-Quantitative Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) assay for studying Rapamycin/mTOR interaction
05:28

A Semi-Quantitative Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) assay for studying Rapamycin/mTOR interaction

Published on: August 27, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key Ser/Thr protein kinase in the PI3K-related kinase family.
  • Unlike other family members involved in DNA damage response, mTOR primarily functions as a sensor for nutrients and growth factors.
  • mTOR exists in two complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, regulating crucial cellular processes like growth, proliferation, and survival.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present current techniques for assessing mTOR kinase activity.
  • To highlight the importance of evaluating mTOR activity as a readout for cellular physiological status in response to environmental cues.

Main Methods:

  • Review of established and emerging methodologies for measuring mTOR kinase activity.
  • Discussion of techniques applicable across diverse experimental settings.

Main Results:

  • mTOR activity serves as a reliable indicator of cellular response to environmental stimuli.
  • A comprehensive overview of available assessment techniques is provided.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate assessment of mTOR kinase activity is crucial for understanding cellular physiology.
  • The presented techniques offer valuable tools for researchers studying mTOR signaling pathways.