How does mTOR activation work?

mTOR (mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) is a complex nutrient-sensing pathway influenced by various signals, particularly amino acids from proteins. Louisa Nicola and Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, discuss how amino acids act as potent signals that mTOR senses to determine nutrient levels, essentially activating mTOR.

Activation of mTOR isn't strictly "good" or "bad." Instead, it's about optimizing its cycles of activation and inactivation, as mTOR plays crucial roles such as building muscle or other tissues. These cycles can vary across different tissues, implying that the optimal levels of mTOR activity in the brain or liver could differ from those in muscle.

Thus, the goal is not to keep mTOR constantly on or off but to optimize these cycles to suit different tissue needs and functions. This complexity makes it challenging to give simple answers regarding mTOR's role in health and longevity 1 .