title: Role of mTOR in physiology and pathology of the nervous system.
abstract: Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine-threonine protein kinase that regulates several intracellular processes in response to extracellular signals, nutrient availability, energy status of the cell and stress. mTOR regulates survival, differentiation and development of neurons. Axon growth and navigation, dendritic arborization, as well as synaptogenesis, depend on proper mTOR activity. In adult brain mTOR is crucial for synaptic plasticity, learning and memory formation, and brain control of food uptake. Recent studies reveal that mTOR activity is modified in various pathologic states of the nervous system, including brain tumors, tuberous sclerosis, cortical displasia and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. This review presents current knowledge about the role of mTOR in the physiology and pathology of the nervous system, with special focus on molecular targets acting downstream of mTOR that potentially contribute to neuronal development, plasticity and neuropathology.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Swiech
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perycz
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaworski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009420:Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000378:metabolism; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011494:Protein Kinases; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D020123:Sirolimus