mTOR Signaling Pathway

The serine/threonine protein kinase - mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), is encoded by the FRAP1 gene in human. Rapamycin is a bacterial product that can inhibit mTOR by associating with its intracellular receptor FKBP12.

mTOR regulates a wide range of cellular activities, including cell growth, proliferation, motility, survival, protein synthesis, and transcription. mTOR forms two different complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, by associating with other proteins. Both complexes can be stimulated by insulin, growth factors, serum, and nutrient levels. mTORC1 is also activated by oxidative stress. mTORC1 functions as a nutrient/energy/redox sensor and controls protein synthesis, whereas mTORC2 conducts important regulation of the cytoskeleton by stimulating F-actin stress fibers, paxillin, RhoA, Rac1, Cdc42,PKCα.