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mTORC1 Pathway

Meaning

The mTORC1 Pathway, or mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1, is a critical intracellular signaling cascade that functions as a central sensor of cellular energy status, nutrient availability—specifically amino acids—and growth factor signals. This pathway is a master regulator of cell growth, proliferation, protein synthesis, and lipogenesis. In the context of longevity and metabolic health, chronic, excessive activation of mTORC1, often driven by over-nutrition and hyperinsulinemia, is implicated in accelerating cellular aging and contributing to insulin resistance. Clinical strategies for health span extension often focus on the precise, transient inhibition of this pathway.