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Leucine Trigger for mTOR

Meaning

The Leucine Trigger for mTOR describes the specific, potent role of the essential branched-chain amino acid, Leucine, in directly activating the mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway within muscle and other anabolic tissues. Leucine acts as a critical nutrient sensor, providing a signal of substrate availability that is indispensable for initiating the complex cellular machinery responsible for muscle protein synthesis (MPS). Clinically, leveraging this trigger is a key strategy for maximizing the anabolic response to protein feeding, especially following resistance exercise.