Hyperactivation of mTOR accelerates development in C. elegans

Abstract

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), an important metabolic regulator affects diverse cellular pathways including cellular growth, aging, and cancer. mTORC pathway is well conserved in multicellular model organisms and species, including yeast, flies, nematodes, and humans. Increased activation of mTOR accelerates cell growth and mutations that increase mTOR pathway activity lead multiple diseases including cancer, metabolic disorders, neurological diseases, and inflammation. Therefore, in vivo animal models are important for investigating diseases caused by mutation on the mTOR pathway. We have identified a C. elegans hyperactive mTOR mutation E2594K and found that this mutation that change mTOR physiology and accelerates C. elegans development