What is the Difference Between mTORC1 and mTORC2?

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The mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating cellular functions, including cell growth, metabolism, proliferation, and survival. mTOR forms two protein complexes: mTORC1 and mTORC2, which have distinct roles and signaling mechanisms.

mTORC1 mainly regulates cell growth and metabolism. It is sensitive to rapamycin and is involved in regulating protein synthesis and cell growth through downstream molecules such as 4E-BP1 and S6K. mTORC1 is also associated with the activation of CD8+ T cells, while mTORC2 activity regulates the memory ability of CD8+ T cells.

mTORC2 primarily controls cell proliferation and survival. It is not directly inhibited by rapamycin and is associated with molecules such as rictor, SIN1, and mLST8. mTORC2 negatively regulates NK (natural killer) cell function mainly by inhibiting the signal transduction, while mTORC1 positively regulates the activity of mTORC2 by maintaining the CD122-mediated IL-15 signaling.

In summary, mTORC1 and mTORC2 are distinct complexes within the mTOR signaling pathway that have different functions and mechanisms of action. mTORC1 mainly regulates cell growth and metabolism, while mTORC2 primarily controls cell proliferation and survival. These complexes play crucial roles in various cellular processes, including immune cell function and cancer progression.

Comparative Table: mTORC1 vs mTORC2

Here is a table comparing the differences between mTORC1 and mTORC2:

Feature mTORC1 mTORC2
Sensitivity Rapamycin-sensitive Rapamycin-insensitive
Subunits Six subunits Seven subunits
Core Component mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin)
Function Regulates protein synthesis Regulates cell proliferation, survival, cell migration, and cytoskeletal remodeling

mTORC1 and mTORC2 are two protein complexes that have mTOR as the core component. mTORC1 is a rapamycin-sensitive protein complex and regulates protein synthesis in the cell. mTORC2 is a rapamycin-insensitive protein complex and regulates cell proliferation, survival, cell migration, and cytoskeletal remodeling. Both complexes play important functions in cells and share the MLST8 and DEPTOR subunits. The difference in their normal functions leads to pathological conditions such as type 2 diabetes and neurodegeneration.