Nutrient signaling to mTOR and cell growth

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Jenna L Jewell1, Kun-Liang Guan

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Moores Cancer Center, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.

Trends in Biochemical Sciences
|March 8, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway regulates cell growth and is often hyperactivated in cancers. This review details nutrient-driven mTORC1 activation, a critical but poorly understood process.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Oncology

Background:

  • The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key protein kinase regulating cellular processes like growth.
  • Aberrant mTOR activation is implicated in human cancers, with mTOR inhibitors showing clinical efficacy.
  • mTOR exists in two complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, with differential regulation by growth factors and nutrients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of nutrient-dependent regulation of mTORC1.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying amino acid-induced mTORC1 activation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on mTORC1 regulation.
  • Analysis of molecular pathways involved in nutrient sensing and mTORC1 activation.

Main Results:

  • mTORC1, but not mTORC2, is sensitive to nutrient availability, including glucose and amino acids.
  • Despite its importance, the precise mechanisms of amino acid-induced mTORC1 activation remain incompletely understood.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding nutrient regulation of mTORC1 is crucial given its role in cell growth and cancer.
  • Further research is needed to fully unravel the complexities of amino acid signaling to mTORC1.

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