Skip to main content
Log in

Autophagy response: manipulating the mTOR-controlled machinery by amino acids and pathogens

  • Invited Review
  • Published:
Amino Acids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Macroautophagy is a self-degradative process that normally maintains cellular homeostasis via a lysosomal pathway. It is induced by different stress signals, including nutrients and growth factors’ restriction as well as pathogen invasions. These stimuli are modulated by the serine/threonine protein kinase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) which control not only autophagy but also protein translation and gene expression. This review focuses on the important role of mTOR as a master regulator of cell growth and the autophagy pathway. Here, we have discussed the role of intracellular amino acid availability and intracellular pH in the redistribution of autophagic structures, which may contribute to mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activity regulation. We have also discussed that mTORC1 complex and components of the autophagy machinery are localized at the lysosomal surface, representing a fascinating mechanism to control the metabolism, cellular clearance and also to restrain invading intracellular pathogens.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to María Isabel Colombo.

Additional information

C. M. Fader and M. O. Aguilera contributed equally to this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fader, C.M., Aguilera, M.O. & Colombo, M.I. Autophagy response: manipulating the mTOR-controlled machinery by amino acids and pathogens. Amino Acids 47, 2101–2112 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-014-1835-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-014-1835-7

Keywords

Navigation