AMPK and mTOR in cellular energy homeostasis and drug targets

K Inoki, J Kim, KL Guan - Annual review of pharmacology and …, 2012 - annualreviews.org
Annual review of pharmacology and toxicology, 2012annualreviews.org
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central controller of cell growth and
proliferation. mTOR forms two distinct complexes, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR
complex 2 (mTORC2). mTORC1 is regulated by multiple signals such as growth factors,
amino acids, and cellular energy and regulates numerous essential cellular processes
including translation, transcription, and autophagy. The AMP-activated protein kinase
(AMPK) is a cellular energy sensor and signal transducer that is regulated by a wide array of …
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central controller of cell growth and proliferation. mTOR forms two distinct complexes, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2). mTORC1 is regulated by multiple signals such as growth factors, amino acids, and cellular energy and regulates numerous essential cellular processes including translation, transcription, and autophagy. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a cellular energy sensor and signal transducer that is regulated by a wide array of metabolic stresses. These two pathways serve as a signaling nexus for regulating cellular metabolism, energy homeostasis, and cell growth, and dysregulation of each pathway may contribute to the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. This review focuses on our current understanding of the relationship between AMPK and mTORC1 signaling and discusses their roles in cellular and organismal energy homeostasis.
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