MTOR: signaling, regulation, effect on metabolism, role in the regulation of life expectancy and tumor growth

MTOR is a mechanical target of rapamycin, consisting of a subunit of two catalytic complexes mTORC1 and mTORC2. mTORC1 regulates cell growth and metabolism, mTORC2 controls proliferation and survival. The mTOR pathway has multiple regulatory mechanisms: humoral, energy status, cytokines, and MAPK signaling pathways. mTOR is involved in protein synthesis through phosphorylation and activation of several substrates that promote initiation, translation of mRNA and increase the efficiency of translation of spliced mRNAs, suppresses protein catabolism, primarily autophagy, participates in glucose and insulin metabolism, activating pancreatic β-cell hyperplasia and stimulating gluconeogenesis, participates in the metabolism of glutamine. It activates adipocyte proliferation and lipid synthesis. It is an important regulator of many neurological and immune processes. The transmission of mTOR signals is involved in the aging process. mTOR is also involved in the initiation of the development of many types of tumor growth.