The mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signalling pathway functions as a nutrient sensor, both in individual cells and, more globally, in organs such as the fat body in Drosophila and the hypothalamus in the rat. The activity of placental amino acid transporters is decreased in IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction), and recent experimental evidence suggests that these changes contribute directly to the restricted fetal growth. We have shown that mTOR regulates the activity of the placental L-type amino acid transporter system and that placental mTOR activity is decreased in IUGR. The present review summarizes the emerging evidence implicating placental mTOR signalling as a key mechanism linking maternal nutrient and growth factor concentrations to amino acid transport in the human placenta. Since fetal growth is critically dependent on placental nutrient transport, placental mTOR signalling plays an important role in the regulation of fetal growth.
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February 2009
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Conference Article|
January 20 2009
Placental mTOR links maternal nutrient availability to fetal growth
Sara Roos;
Sara Roos
1
*Perinatal Center, Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 432, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email sara.roos@gu.se).
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Theresa L. Powell;
Theresa L. Powell
*Perinatal Center, Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 432, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
†Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, 231 Albert B Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, U.S.A.
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Thomas Jansson
Thomas Jansson
*Perinatal Center, Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 432, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
†Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, 231 Albert B Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, U.S.A.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
October 29 2008
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Biochemical Society
2009
Biochem Soc Trans (2009) 37 (1): 295–298.
Article history
Received:
October 29 2008
Citation
Sara Roos, Theresa L. Powell, Thomas Jansson; Placental mTOR links maternal nutrient availability to fetal growth. Biochem Soc Trans 1 February 2009; 37 (1): 295–298. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0370295
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