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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

Insights

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

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.

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