Amino acid sensing and activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1: Implications for skeletal muscle

Abstract

Purpose of review This article evaluates recent studies on the mechanisms involved in sensing changes in amino acid availability and activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Recent findings mTORC1 is sensitive to changes in amino acid availability and a well known regulator of protein turnover. The mechanisms of amino acid sensing and mTORC1 signaling are emerging with multiple potential sensors (e.g., solute carrier family 38, member 9, lysosomal protein transmembrane 4 beta/solute carrier family 7, member 5-solute carrier family 3, member 2) and signal transducers (e.g., Sestrins, ADP-ribosylation factor 1, and microspherule protein 1) identified. Studies in va..