The target of rapamycin (TOR) proteins

Rapamycin potently inhibits downstream signaling from the target of rapamyc in (TOR) proteins. These evolutionarily conserved protein kinases coordinat e the balance between protein synthesis and protein degradation in response to nutrient quality and quantity. The TOR proteins regulate (i) the initia tion and elongation phases of translation, (ii) ribosome biosynthesis. (iii ) amino acid import, (iv) the transcription of numerous enzymes involved in multiple metabolic pathways, and (v) autophagy. Intriguingly, recent studi es have also suggested that TOR signaling plays a critical role in brain de velopment, learning, and memory formation.