WHAT IS THE mTOR PATHWAY?

The mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a central regulator of cellular growth, metabolism, and survival. It integrates signals from nutrients, growth factors, and cellular energy status to maintain homeostasis and adapt to environmental changes.

Why choose AnyGenes® for mTOR pathway research?

At AnyGenes®, we offer advanced qPCR arrays tailored for mTOR pathway research. With our innovative solutions, researchers can:

Investigate key regulators of the mTOR pathway, such as mTORC1, mTORC2, and AMPK.
Analyze downstream targets like S6K, 4E-BP1, and autophagy-related genes.
Study the crosstalk between mTOR and other pathways, including PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling.

Our qPCR arrays deliver high precision and reproducibility, empowering researchers to uncover novel insights into the mTOR pathway's role in health and disease.

AnyGenes mTOR Pathway Array for studying cellular signaling and regulation

Discover our advanced qPCR arrays for mTOR Pathway research.

The structures, regulatory mechanism and functions of mTORC2.

Regulatory mechanism and function of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). (A) The structures and regulatory mechanism of mTORC1. (B) The downstream functions of mTORC1.

REGULATION OF mTOR COMPLEXES

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) exists in two distinct complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, each regulated through specific upstream signals and pathways.

mTORC1 Regulation:
- Activation: mTORC1 is activated by nutrients, growth factors, and energy availability. Key signals include insulin signaling and amino acid availability, which engage pathways such as PI3K-AKT and RAG GTPases.
- Negative Regulation: The tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) acts as a negative regulator, inhibiting mTORC1 in response to stress, low energy, or hypoxia. AMPK activation also suppresses mTORC1 by phosphorylating TSC2.
- Function: mTORC1 promotes protein synthesis, lipid biosynthesis, and cell growth while inhibiting autophagy.
mTORC2 Regulation:
- Activation: mTORC2 responds to growth factors and is regulated by the PI3K pathway. Unlike mTORC1, it does not respond directly to nutrient availability.
- Function: It plays a critical role in cytoskeletal organization, cell survival, and AKT activation.
Cross-Regulation:
- mTOR complexes are interconnected, with mTORC1 activity influencing downstream pathways that affect mTORC2.

KEY ROLES OF mTOR PATHWAY

The mTOR pathway plays a pivotal role in regulating cellular and physiological processes:

Cell Growth and Proliferation: Activation of mTORC1 promotes protein synthesis through the phosphorylation of key targets such as S6 kinase and 4E-BP1, leading to increased cell growth and proliferation.
Metabolism: mTOR influences metabolic pathways by regulating lipid synthesis, glucose metabolism, and autophagy. It adapts cellular metabolism according to nutrient availability, facilitating energy production necessary for cell division
Autophagy: mTORC1 inhibits autophagy under nutrient-rich conditions, while its suppression activates this survival mechanism.
Cell Survival: mTORC2 enhances cytoskeletal organization and survival signaling through AKT activation.
Immune Function: Regulates immune cell activation, differentiation, and responses to stress.

Key Components

mTORC1 (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1): Regulates cellular metabolism, protein synthesis, and growth by responding to nutrient and energy signals. mTORC1 controls several downstream effectors, including S6K1, 4E-BP1, and autophagy-related proteins.
mTORC2 (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2): Regulates cell survival, metabolism, and cytoskeletal organization. It is involved in the activation of AKT and is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis.
AMPK (AMP-Activated Protein Kinase): Acts as an energy sensor that regulates mTORC1 activity in response to cellular energy levels. When energy is low, AMPK inhibits mTORC1 to promote cellular survival.
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC): A negative regulator of mTORC1, TSC acts as a checkpoint in response to stress and nutrient deprivation, preventing excessive cell growth and proliferation.

mTOR PATHWAY AND DISEASE IMPLICATIONS

Dysregulation of the mTOR pathway has been linked to a variety of diseases, including cancer, metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and immune system dysfunction. Understanding the role of mTOR in these conditions is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies:

Cancer: Hyperactivation of mTORC1 promotes tumor growth by enhancing protein synthesis and cell survival. mTOR inhibitors are being explored as potential treatments for various cancers.
Metabolic Disorders: mTOR signaling influences insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Dysregulated mTOR activity can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Neurodegenerative Diseases: In conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, impaired mTOR regulation leads to reduced autophagy, contributing to the accumulation of toxic proteins and neuronal damage.
Immune System Dysfunction: mTOR signaling regulates immune cell differentiation and activation. Its dysregulation can lead to autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and immunodeficiency.

mTOR INHIBITION AND THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

The inhibition of mTOR, particularly mTORC1, has become a promising therapeutic target for various diseases:

Rapamycin: As the first mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin has been used to prevent organ transplant rejection and is being studied for its potential to treat cancer and aging-related diseases.
Dual mTOR Inhibitors: Targeting both mTORC1 and mTORC2 has been explored as a more effective strategy to inhibit mTOR activity, with potential applications in cancer therapy, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune diseases.
Targeted Therapies: Research is ongoing to develop more specific and potent mTOR inhibitors with fewer side effects.

(1) Saxton RA et Sabatini DM. mTOR Signaling in Growth, Metabolism, and Disease. Cell. (2017)9;168(6):960-976.

(2) Das A et al. mTOR Signaling in Cardiometabolic Disease, Cancer, and Aging. Oxid Med Cell Longev. (2017).

(3) Chamcheu JC et al. Role and Therapeutic Targeting of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Skin Cancer: A Review of Current Status and Future Trends on Natural and Synthetic Agents Therapy. Cells. (2019)31;8(8).

(4) Wei X et al. Roles of mTOR Signaling in Tissue Regeneration. Cells. (2019)12;8(9).

(5) Kwasnicki A et al. Involvement of mTOR signaling pathways in regulating growth and dissemination of metastatic brain tumors via EMT. Anticancer Res. (2015);35(2):689-96.

(6) Paquette M e t al. mTOR Pathways in Cance r and Autophagy. Cancers (Basel). (2018);10(1).

(7) Hua H e t al. Targeting mTOR for cancer therapy. J Hematol Oncol. (2019);12(1):71.

mTOR SIGNALING PATHWAY BIOMARKER LIST

Customize your own signaling pathways (SignArrays®) with the factors of your choice!
Simply download and complete our Personalized SignArrays® information file and send it at [email protected] to get started on your project.

You can check the biomarker list included in this pathway, see below: .

Species : Homo sapiens (human)

Signaling Pathways	Product ref	Informations
mTOR Signaling Pathway	MTOR1H1	List infos

Species : Mus musculus (mouse)

Signaling Pathways	Product ref	Informations
mTOR Signaling Pathway	MTOR1M1	List infos

Species : Rattus norvegicus (rat)

Signaling Pathways	Product ref	Informations
mTOR Signaling Pathway	*******	List In progress...

Species : Sus Scrofa (Pig)

Signaling Pathways	Product ref	Informations
mTOR Signaling Pathway	*******	List In progress...

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