mTOR, Unleashed

摘要

The enzyme mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) integrates many different cellular signals to control cell growth and proliferation, protein synthesis and breakdown, and other processes. Dysregulation of mTOR is implicated in a range of human diseases, including cancers and cardiovascular conditions (1,2). Although analogs of the compound rapamycin (rapalogs) are in use or in clinical trials to treat such diseases, the means by which signaling through mTOR is controlled are not well understood. On page 977 of this issue, Bai et al. (3) make an important contribution to understanding how mTOR is turned on.