Circadian Clocks and mTOR Signaling

Abstract

The interest in the delay of aging and age associated pathologies through dietary interventions is growing. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of dietary effects on physiology and metabolism is essential to develop rational strategies for dietary interventions. Circadian clock and mTOR signaling pathway play critical role in the organism/diet interaction and regulation of metabolism. Circadian clock generates rhythms in physiology, known as circadian rhythms, which are essential for the synchronization of various metabolic processes with periodic feeding (activity)/fasting (sleep) cycles. Clock disruption is associated with the development of multiple pathologies in animal models and increases the risk of diseases in humans. mTOR signaling pathway is a master regulator of a switch between catabolism and anabolism in response to feeding. mTOR pathway is deregulated in many diseases such as cancer and diabetes and contributes to development of these pathologies. Both systems, the circadian clock and mTOR pathway, have been implicated in the control of aging in different organisms. Recently several groups reported on the existence of the crosstalk between the circadian clock and mTOR signaling pathway. Here we will discuss the role of this crosstalk in aging.