Abstract
The mechanistic target of Rapamycin (mTOR) is a ubiquitously-conserved serine/threonine kinase, which has a central function in integrating growth signals and orchestrating their physiologic effects on cellular level. mTOR is the core component of differently composed signaling complexes that differ in protein composition and molecular targets. Newly identified classes of mTOR inhibitors are being developed to block autoimmune diseases and transplant rejections but also to treat obesity, diabetes, and different types of cancer. Therefore, the selective and context-dependent inhibition of mTOR activity itself might come into the focus as molecular target to prevent severe diseases and possibly to extend life span. This review provides a general introduction to the molecular composition and physiologic function of mTOR complexes as part of the Special Issue “2018 Select Papers by Cells’ Editorial Board Members”.
Highlights
The mechanistic target of Rapamycin is a ubiquitously-conserved serine/threonine kinase, which has a central function in integrating growth signals and orchestrating their physiologic effects on cellular level. mTOR is the core component of differently composed signaling complexes that differ in protein composition and molecular targets
The PI3K-related kinases (PIKK)-type kinase mTOR plays a central role as coordinator of cellular metabolism by integrating distinct extracellular stimuli and intracellular signals for the initiation of a concerted and adjusted response
Because of its crucial role in normal physiology, the dysregulation of mTOR signaling is often associated with certain diseases as well as the molecular process of aging
Summary
The coordination of cell growth, cell size, organ shape and body plan is largely controlled by one serine/threonine kinase, the mechanistic target of Rapamycin (mTOR), which is, historically, known as a mammalian target of rapamycin [1]. It has been described as an atypical protein kinase, because it is closely related to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) family of lipid kinases and represents the founding member of the small family of PI3K-related kinases (PIKK) [2].
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