Hypothalamic mTOR signaling regulates food intake.
1. Science. 2006 May 12;312(5775):927-30.
Hypothalamic mTOR signaling regulates food intake.
Cota D(1), Proulx K, Smith KA, Kozma SC, Thomas G, Woods SC, Seeley RJ.
Author information:
(1)Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati, Genome Research Institute,
2170 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45237, USA.
Comment in
Science. 2006 Sep 1;313(5791):1236-8; author reply 1236-8.
Science. 2006 May 12;312(5775):861-4.
The mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) protein is a serine-threonine kinase
that regulates cell-cycle progression and growth by sensing changes in energy
status. We demonstrated that mTOR signaling plays a role in the brain mechanisms
that respond to nutrient availability, regulating energy balance. In the rat,
mTOR signaling is controlled by energy status in specific regions of the
hypothalamus and colocalizes with neuropeptide Y and proopiomelanocortin neurons
in the arcuate nucleus. Central administration of leucine increases hypothalamic
mTOR signaling and decreases food intake and body weight. The hormone leptin
increases hypothalamic mTOR activity, and the inhibition of mTOR signaling blunts
leptin’s anorectic effect. Thus, mTOR is a cellular fuel sensor whose
hypothalamic activity is directly tied to the regulation of energy intake.
DOI: 10.1126/science.1124147
PMID: 16690869 [Indexed for MEDLINE]