Overview:

The mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR, also known as FRAP or RAFT, is a Ser/Thr protein kinase. mTOR acts as a sensor for ATP and amino acids, balancing the availability of nutrients and cell growth (1). When sufficient nutrients are available, mTOR responds to a phosphatidic acid-mediated signal, transmits a positive signal to p70 S6 kinase and participates in the inactivation of the eIF4E inhibitor, 4E-BP1 (2).

References:

1. Sabers CJ et al: Isolation of a protein target of the FKBP12-rapamycin complex in mammalian cells. J Biol Chem. 270(2): 815-22, 1995.

2. Fang Y. et al: Phosphatidic acid-mediated mitogenic activation of mTOR signaling. Science. 294(5548): 1942-5, 2001.

3. Holz MK, et,al. (2005) J Biol Chem ;280:26089-26093.

4. Chiang GG, et,al. (2005) J Biol Chem ;280: 25485-25490.

5. Mothe-Satney I, et,al. (2004) J Biol Chem ;279: 42628-42637.

6. Bolster DR, et,al. (2003) J Physiol ;553:213-220.