The mammalian TOR (mTOR) pathway is a key regulator of cell growth and proliferation and increasing evidence suggests that its deregulation is associated with human diseases, including cancer and diabetes.

The mTOR pathway integrates signals from nutrients, energy status and growth factors to regulate many processes, including autophagy, ribosome biogenesis and metabolism.

Two structurally and functionally distinct mTOR-containing multiprotein complexes have been identified.

TSC1/2, rheb, and AMPK are upstream regulators of mTOR.

References

 Guertin DA, Sabatini DM. An expanding role for mTOR in cancer. Trends Mol Med. 2005 Aug;11(8):353-61. PMID: #16002336#

 Martin DE, Hall MN. The expanding TOR signaling network. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2005 Apr;17(2):158-66. PMID: #15780592#

 Findlay GM, Harrington LS, Lamb RF. TSC1-2 tumour suppressor and regulation of mTOR signalling: linking cell growth and proliferation? Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2005 Feb;15(1):69-76. PMID: #15661536#

 Inoki K, Corradetti MN, Guan KL. Dysregulation of the TSC-mTOR pathway in human disease. Nat Genet. 2005 Jan;37(1):19-24. PMID: #15624019#