Rapamycin is an immunosuppressant that is used primarily to prevent the rejection of organ and bone marrow transplant. It was first described as a potent inhibitor of interleukin-2 activation of lymphocytes (IC50 = 5 pM).1 It is now known that rapamycin specifically interacts with the cytosolic FK-binding protein 12 (FKBP12) to form a complex which inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway by directly binding to mTOR Complex 1 (mTORC1). Rapamycin and other inhibitors of mTORC1 signaling show potential in treating cancer, adipogenesis, diabetes, tuberous sclerosis, and cardiovascular disease.2,3,4
1
Kay, J.E., Kromwel, L., Doe, S.E.A., et al. Inhibition of T and B lymphocyte proliferation by rapamycin. Immunology72544-549(1991).
2
Akcakanat, A., Zhang, L., Tsavachidis, S., et al. The rapamycin-regulated gene expression signature determines prognosis for breast cancer. Mol Cancer8(75)(2009).
3
Zhang, H.H., Huang, J., Düvel, K., et al. Insulin stimulates adipogenesis through the Akt-TSC2-mTORC1 pathway. PLoS One4(7)(2009).
4
Balgi, A.D., Fonseca, B.D., Donohue, E., et al. Screen for chemical modulators of autophagy reveals novel therapeutic inhibitors of mTORC1 signaling. PLoS One4(9)(2009).
Akcakanat, A., Zhang, L., Tsavachidis, S., et al. The rapamycin-regulated gene expression signature determines prognosis for breast cancer. Mol Cancer8(75)(2009).
Zhang, H.H., Huang, J., Düvel, K., et al. Insulin stimulates adipogenesis through the Akt-TSC2-mTORC1 pathway. PLoS One4(7)(2009).
Balgi, A.D., Fonseca, B.D., Donohue, E., et al. Screen for chemical modulators of autophagy reveals novel therapeutic inhibitors of mTORC1 signaling. PLoS One4(9)(2009).
Kay, J.E., Kromwel, L., Doe, S.E.A., et al. Inhibition of T and B lymphocyte proliferation by rapamycin. Immunology72544-549(1991).