The target of rapamycin (TOR) proteins

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Jun 19;98(13):7037-44. doi: 10.1073/pnas.121145898.

Abstract

Rapamycin potently inhibits downstream signaling from the target of rapamycin (TOR) proteins. These evolutionarily conserved protein kinases coordinate the balance between protein synthesis and protein degradation in response to nutrient quality and quantity. The TOR proteins regulate (i) the initiation and elongation phases of translation, (ii) ribosome biosynthesis, (iii) amino acid import, (iv) the transcription of numerous enzymes involved in multiple metabolic pathways, and (v) autophagy. Intriguingly, recent studies have also suggested that TOR signaling plays a critical role in brain development, learning, and memory formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Learning / physiology
  • Long-Term Potentiation / drug effects
  • Long-Term Potentiation / physiology
  • Memory / physiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Peptide Chain Elongation, Translational / drug effects
  • Peptide Chain Elongation, Translational / physiology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases*
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / metabolism*
  • Ribosomes / drug effects
  • Ribosomes / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology*
  • Synapses / drug effects
  • Synapses / physiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)
  • TOR1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • TOR2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Sirolimus