mTORC1 stimulates nucleotide synthesis through both transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms

Background Cellular growth signals stimulate anabolic processes. The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), as part of mTORC1, is a protein kinase that senses growth signals to regulate anabolic growth and proliferation. mTORC1 stimulates protein synthesis through effects on mRNA translation and ribosome biogenesis [1]. mTORC1 signaling also promotes de novo lipid and sterol synthesis through the activation of the sterol-response element-binding protein (SREBP) transcription factors, which stimulate the expression of the enzymes driving this biosynthetic process [2].