mTOR signaling: at the crossroads of plasticity, memory and disease.

摘要: Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a protein kinase involved in translation control and long-lasting synaptic plasticity. mTOR functions as the central component two multi-protein signaling complexes, mTORC1 mTORC2, which can be distinguished from each other based on their unique compositions substrates. Although majority evidence linking function to plasticity comes studies utilizing rapamycin, genetically modified mice also suggest that couples receptors machinery for establishing changes are basis higher order brain function, including long-term memory. Finally, perturbation cascade appears common pathophysiological feature human neurological disorders, mental retardation syndromes autism spectrum disorders.