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mTOR Signaling Pathway – Cell Growth, Metabolism and Biomarker Analysis

What is the mTOR signaling pathway?

The mTOR signaling pathway (mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) is a master regulator of cell growth, metabolism, survival, and stress adaptation. It integrates signals from nutrients, growth factors, energy status, and cellular stress to maintain homeostasis and enable cells to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

mTOR functions as a central signaling hub controlling anabolic and catabolic processes, including protein synthesis, lipid metabolism, autophagy, and immune cell activation. Dysregulation of mTOR signaling is implicated in cancer, metabolic disorders, neurodegeneration, and immune dysfunction.

AnyGenes mTOR Pathway Array for studying cellular signaling and regulation

mTOR pathway activity can be efficiently assessed by measuring gene expression of core regulators, downstream targets, and pathway-specific biomarker signatures.

mTOR signaling pathway biomarker list
View the genes included in our mTOR pathway qPCR arrays.

mTOR-Signaling-Pathway-mTORC2
The structures, regulatory mechanism and functions of mTORC2.
mTOR-Signaling-Pathway-mTORC1
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.

Key takeaways

  • Central regulator of cell growth, metabolism, and survival
  • Integrates nutrient, growth factor, and energy signals
  • Operates through two complexes: mTORC1 and mTORC2
  • Strongly linked to cancer, metabolic and immune diseases
  • Highly suitable for biomarker discovery and gene expression profiling

Regulation of mTOR complexes

mTOR exists in two functionally distinct complexes with complementary roles.

mTORC1 regulation

  • Activation: Responds to nutrients, insulin, growth factors, and PI3K/AKT signaling
  • Negative regulation: AMPK and the TSC complex inhibit mTORC1 under low energy, stress, or hypoxia
  • Functions: Promotes protein synthesis, lipid biosynthesis, cell growth, and suppresses autophagy

mTORC2 regulation

  • Activation: Primarily triggered by growth factors via PI3K
  • Functions: Regulates cytoskeletal organization, cell survival, and AKT activation

Cross-regulation:
mTORC1 activity influences downstream signaling networks that indirectly affect mTORC2, highlighting strong pathway interconnectivity.

Key biological roles of the mTOR pathway

  • Cell growth and proliferation: mTORC1 activates S6K and 4E-BP1 to drive protein synthesis
  • Metabolism: Controls glucose, lipid metabolism, and autophagy depending on nutrient availability
  • Cell survival: mTORC2 enhances AKT signaling and cytoskeletal stability
  • Immune function: Regulates immune cell activation, differentiation, and stress responses

Core components of mTOR signaling

  • mTORC1: Controls metabolism, growth, and autophagy
  • mTORC2: Regulates survival, cytoskeleton, and AKT activation
  • AMPK: Cellular energy sensor inhibiting mTORC1 under low energy
  • TSC complex: Negative regulator preventing uncontrolled growth

mTOR signaling pathway in disease

  • Cancer: Hyperactivation promotes tumor growth, metabolic reprogramming, and therapy resistance
  • Metabolic disorders: Dysregulated mTOR contributes to obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
  • Neurodegenerative diseases: Impaired mTOR signaling disrupts autophagy, leading to protein accumulation
  • Immune dysfunction: Aberrant signaling contributes to chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, and immunodeficiency

Therapeutic targeting of mTOR

  • Rapamycin: First mTOR inhibitor, used in transplantation and explored in cancer and aging
  • Dual mTOR inhibitors: Target both mTORC1 and mTORC2 for improved efficacy
  • Next-generation inhibitors: Aim to enhance specificity and reduce side effects

Accurate biomarker profiling is essential to guide therapeutic strategies and patient stratification.

Why study the mTOR signaling pathway with AnyGenes®?

At AnyGenes®, we provide high-performance qPCR arrays and customizable SignArrays® dedicated to mTOR pathway analysis.

Our solutions allow researchers to:

  • Quantify mTOR-dependent gene expression signatures
  • Analyze downstream targets and pathway cross-talk (PI3K/AKT, AMPK, MAPK)
  • Identify predictive and functional biomarkers
  • Generate robust, reproducible, publication-ready data

mTOR signaling pathway biomarker analysis with AnyGenes®

What can be analyzed?

  • Core mTOR regulators (mTOR, RPTOR, RICTOR)
  • AKT and AMPK signaling components
  • Protein synthesis and autophagy markers
  • Metabolic and immune-related gene signatures

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.

Frequently asked questions

mTORC1 promotes protein synthesis and cell proliferation; mTORC2 enhances survival via AKT and cytoskeletal organization.

Key genes: MTOR, RPTOR, RICTOR, AKT1/2/3, AMPK, TSC1/2, S6K1, 4E-BP1.

PI3K/AKT activates mTORC1/2, linking nutrient and growth factor signals to cell growth and survival.

Dysregulation leads to uncontrolled growth, metabolic imbalance, and therapy resistance.

The mTOR pathway is activated by nutrients, growth factors, and cellular energy status. PI3K/AKT signaling, amino acids, and insulin stimulate mTORC1, while growth factors primarily regulate mTORC2.

mTOR regulates cell growth, proliferation, metabolism, survival, and autophagy, ensuring adaptation to environmental changes and maintaining cellular homeostasis.

mTORC1 promotes protein synthesis by phosphorylating key targets such as S6 kinase (S6K1) and 4E-BP1, increasing ribosome activity and translation efficiency.

mTORC1 mainly controls protein synthesis, metabolism, and autophagy in response to nutrients and energy levels, while mTORC2 regulates cell survival, cytoskeletal organization, and AKT activation in response to growth factors.

You can review the biomarker list for the mTOR pathway in the table below to see if it matches your research focus. If the targets you need are not included, you can customize your own SignArrays® by downloading and completing our Personalized SignArrays® information file. Send it to [email protected] to get started on your project.
  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  Cancer  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

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

Species : Homo sapiens (human)

Human Signaling Pathways

Signaling PathwaysProduct refInformations

mTOR Signaling Pathway

MTOR1H1

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Species : Mus musculus (mouse)

Mouse Signaling Pathways

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mTOR Signaling Pathway

MTOR1M1

List infos


Species : Rattus norvegicus (rat)

Rat Signaling Pathways

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mTOR Signaling Pathway

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List In progress...


Species : Sus Scrofa (Pig)

Pig Signaling Pathways

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mTOR Signaling Pathway

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List In progress...


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For more information on prices, please contact us at:

[email protected]