Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Spatiotemporal Control of Protein Activity through Optogenetic Allosteric Regulation
08:00

Spatiotemporal Control of Protein Activity through Optogenetic Allosteric Regulation

Published on: October 4, 2024

[TOR-centric concept of regulation mitogenic, metabolic and energetic signal processing in cell]

S G Zubova, Zh V Shitikova, T V Pospelova

    Tsitologiia
    |October 19, 2012
    PubMed

    Insights

    The target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase, including mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), regulates cell growth and metabolism. This review explores mTOR

    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Biology
    • Cell Biology

    Background:

    • The target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase is a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase.
    • mTOR integrates extracellular and intracellular signals to regulate cell growth, protein synthesis, and metabolism.
    • mTOR functions in two distinct complexes: mTORC1 (rapamycin-sensitive) and mTORC2 (rapamycin-resistant).

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review the regulation of mTOR kinase.
    • To discuss mTOR's relationship with general cell-signaling pathways.
    • To highlight mTOR's therapeutic potential in various diseases.

    Main Methods:

    • Literature review of mTOR signaling.
    • Analysis of mTOR's role in cell signaling pathways.
    • Examination of mTOR's involvement in disease pathogenesis.

    Main Results:

    • mTOR is a key component of the PI3K/Akt pathway, often deregulated in cancer.
    • Cross-talk exists between the p53 tumor suppressor cascade and mTOR.
    • mTOR dysregulation is implicated in cancer, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging syndromes.

    Conclusions:

    • mTOR plays a critical role in cell growth, metabolism, and disease.
    • Targeting mTOR offers a promising therapeutic strategy for multiple conditions.
    • Further research into mTOR regulation and signaling is warranted.

    More Related Videos

    Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development09:32

    Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development

    Published on: June 15, 2017

    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...
    Regulation of Metabolism01:19

    Regulation of Metabolism

    Cellular needs and conditions vary from cell to cell and change within individual cells over time. For example, the required enzymes and energetic demands of stomach cells are different from those of fat storage cells, skin cells, blood cells, and nerve cells. Furthermore, a digestive cell works much harder to process and break down nutrients during the time that closely follows a meal compared with many hours after a meal. As these cellular demands and conditions vary, so do the amounts and...
    Cell Signaling Feedback Loops01:07

    Cell Signaling Feedback Loops

    Positive and negative feedback loops are crucial for regulating biological signaling systems. These feedback loops are processes that connect output signals to their inputs.
    Negative feedback loops
    Most signaling systems have negative feedback loops that can perform different functions such as output limiter, and adaptation.
    Output limiter
    Upon receiving an input signal, the cellular response rapidly increases until a threshold is reached. Beyond this threshold, a negative feedback loop...
    Global Regulatory Systems01:28

    Global Regulatory Systems

    Global regulatory systems in bacteria enable rapid and coordinated responses to environmental changes by integrating sensory inputs with gene expression, ensuring efficient adaptation to fluctuating conditions. Key global regulatory mechanisms include regulons, two-component systems, sigma factors, and secondary messengers.Regulons and Global RegulatorsA regulon is a collection of genes and operons controlled by a common global regulator. These regulators enable bacteria to prioritize resource...
    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...