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mTOR complexes in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders

Nature Neuroscience volume 16, pages 1537–1543 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) acts as a highly conserved signaling “hub” that integrates neuronal activity and a variety of synaptic inputs. mTOR is found in two functionally distinct complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, that crucially control long-term synaptic efficacy and memory storage. Dysregulation of mTOR signaling is associated with neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this Review, we describe the most recent advances in studies of mTOR signaling in the brain and the possible mechanisms underlying the many different functions of the mTOR complexes in neurological diseases. In addition, we discuss the medical relevance of these findings.

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Figure 1: mTOR forms two functionally distinct complexes: mTORC1 and mTORC2.
Figure 2: Regulation of the mTOR signaling pathway in the brain.

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Acknowledgements

We thank members of M.C.-M.'s laboratory, K. Krnjevic and E.T. Kavalali for comments and discussion. The figures were designed by S. Buffington. This work was supported by US National Institutes of Health grants NS076708 (M.C.-M.), MH096816 (M.C.-M.) and MH070727 (L.M.M.), Department of Defense grant AR10254 (M.C.-M.), Searle award grant 09-SSP-211 (M.C.-M.), the Whitehall Foundation (M.C.-M.) and the International Mental Health Research Organization (L.M.M.).

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  1. Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

    Mauro Costa-Mattioli

  2. Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA

    Lisa M Monteggia

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Correspondence to Mauro Costa-Mattioli or Lisa M Monteggia.

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Costa-Mattioli, M., Monteggia, L. mTOR complexes in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Nat Neurosci 16, 1537–1543 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3546

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