Coordination and communication between the p53 and IGF-1–AKT–TOR signal transduction pathways
- 1The Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA; 2Cancer Institute of New Jersey, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA; 3Department of Medical Biophysics, Toronto University, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada; 4Pharmacology Department, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
Abstract
Over the past 10 years the signal transduction networks for p53, IGF-1-AKT, and TOR pathways have been assembled in worms, flies, and mammals, and their functions elucidated. In the past 1-2 years a number of genes and their proteins have been identified that permit extensive communication and coordination between these pathways. These three pathways are involved in sensing and integrating signals arising from nutrient and growth factor availability, signals from sensory and sexual organs, and intrinsic and extrinsic stress signals. In turn these pathways regulate cell growth, proliferation, and death. These networks are central to our understanding of a variety of physiological and pathological conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and longevity.
