Mammalian TOR: a homeostatic ATP sensor

Science. 2001 Nov 2;294(5544):1102-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1063518.

Abstract

The bacterial macrolide rapamycin is an efficacious anticancer agent against solid tumors. In a hypoxic environment, the increase in mass of solid tumors is dependent on the recruitment of mitogens and nutrients. When nutrient concentrations change, particularly those of essential amino acids, the mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) functions in regulatory pathways that control ribosome biogenesis and cell growth. In bacteria, ribosome biogenesis is independently regulated by amino acids and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Here we demonstrate that the mTOR pathway is influenced by the intracellular concentration of ATP, independent of the abundance of amino acids, and that mTOR itself is an ATP sensor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism*
  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Androstadienes / pharmacology
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Line
  • Deoxyglucose / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Insulin / pharmacology
  • Kinetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / metabolism
  • Ribosomes / metabolism
  • Rotenone / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Wortmannin

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Amino Acids
  • Androstadienes
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • EIF4EBP1 protein, human
  • Insulin
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Rotenone
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Deoxyglucose
  • Protein Kinases
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Sirolimus
  • Wortmannin