The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR, FRAP, RAFT) is a Ser/Thr protein kinase that functions as an ATP and amino acid sensor to balance nutrient availability and cell growth. The phosphatidylinositol kinase (PIK) family members fall into two distinct subgroups. These kinases mediate cellular responses to stresses such as DNA damage and nutrient deprivation. mTOR plays a key role in cell growth and homeostasis and may be abnormally regulated in tumors. For these reasons, mTOR is currently under investigation as a potential target for anti-cancer therapy.
