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Target of Rapamycin in Control of Autophagy: Puppet Master and Signal Integrator

Yosia Mugume1, Zakayo Kazibwe1, Diane C Bassham1

  • 1Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|November 7, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway regulates cell growth and metabolism by sensing environmental cues. This review covers TOR

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The target of rapamycin (TOR) is a crucial kinase regulating cell growth and metabolism.
  • TOR integrates environmental signals like nutrients and stress to control cellular processes.
  • Autophagy, a cellular recycling process, is negatively regulated by TOR under unfavorable conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the composition and function of TOR complexes in diverse organisms.
  • To summarize recent advances in identifying upstream activators and downstream effectors of TOR.
  • To discuss the regulation of autophagy by TOR, particularly in photosynthetic organisms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on TOR and autophagy.
  • Analysis of TOR complex composition and functional studies.
  • Synthesis of recent findings on TOR pathway regulation and effectors.

Main Results:

  • TOR's dual role in promoting growth and inhibiting autophagy based on environmental cues.
  • Identification of key upstream signals and downstream targets modulating TOR activity.
  • Detailed examination of TOR's control over autophagy initiation via ATG13 phosphorylation.

Conclusions:

  • TOR signaling is central to coordinating growth and stress responses across kingdoms.
  • Understanding TOR activators and effectors provides insights into metabolic control.
  • TOR's regulation of autophagy is critical for cellular adaptation, especially in plants.
Keywords:
TOR signalingTORC1autophagyplant growthtarget of rapamycin (TOR)

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