Abstract:
The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway integrates signals from extracellular and intracellular
agents, such as growth factors, nutrients, mediators of energy balance, oxygen availability and other
environmental cues. It allows the regulation of multiple cellular processes including protein and
lipid synthesis, ribosome biogenesis, autophagy and metabolic processes. Being conserved across
different phyla, TOR regulates longevity of various organisms in response to dietary conditions. In
this review we described the main components of the TOR pathway and its upstream effectors and
downstream processes in relation to aging. The potential contribution of the TOR pathway in
lifespan-extending effects of varied dietary interventions, and the anti-aging drugs rapamycin and
metformin direct or indirect regulation of TOR activity in yeasts, worms, flies and mammals are
also discussed.
