Document Detail


Placental mTOR links maternal nutrient availability to fetal growth.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19143650     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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.
Authors:
Sara Roos; Theresa L Powell; Thomas Jansson
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Biochemical Society transactions     Volume:  37     ISSN:  1470-8752     ISO Abbreviation:  Biochem. Soc. Trans.     Publication Date:  2009 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-01-15     Completed Date:  2009-02-11     Revised Date:  2009-11-19    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7506897     Medline TA:  Biochem Soc Trans     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  295-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Perinatal Center, Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 432, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden. sara.roos@gu.se
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Female
Fetal Development*
Food*
Humans
Maternal-Fetal Exchange*
Placenta / enzymology*
Pregnancy
Protein Kinases / metabolism*
Signal Transduction
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
EC 2.7.-/Protein Kinases; EC 2.7.1.-/mTOR protein

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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