Multifaceted role of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling pathway in human health and disease

The mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)is a protein kinase that controls cellular metabolism,catabolism,immune responses,autophagy,survival,proliferation,and migration,to maintain cellular homeostasis.The mTOR signaling cascade consists of two distinct multi-subunit complexes named mTOR complex 1/2(mTORC1/2).mTOR catalyzes the phosphorylation of several critical proteins like AKT,protein kinase C,insulin growth factor receptor(IGF-1R),4E binding protein 1(4E-BP1),ribosomal protein S6 kinase(S6K),transcription factor EB(TFEB),sterol-responsive element-binding proteins(SREBPs),Lipin-1,and Unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinases.mTOR signaling plays a central role in regulating translation,lipid synthesis,nucleotide synthesis,biogenesis of lysosomes,nutrient sensing,and growth factor signaling.The emerging pieces of evidence have revealed that the constitutive activation of the mTOR pathway due to mutations/amplification/deletion in either mTOR and its complexes(mTORC1 and mTORC2)or upstream targets is responsible for aging,neurological diseases,and human malignancies.Here,we provide the detailed structure of mTOR,its complexes,and the comprehensive role of upstream regulators,as well as downstream effectors of mTOR signaling cascades in the metabolism,biogenesis of biomolecules,immune responses,and autophagy.Additionally,we summarize the potential of long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)as an important modulator of mTOR signaling.Importantly,we have highlighted the potential of mTOR signaling in aging,neurological disorders,human cancers,cancer stem cells,and drug resistance.Here,we discuss the developments for the therapeutic targeting of mTOR signaling with improved anticancer efficacy for the benefit of cancer patients in clinics.

Fungal diversity notes 1611-1716: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on fungal genera and species emphasis in south China

This article is the 15th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series,wherein 115 taxa from three phyla,nine classes,28 orders,48 families,and 64 genera are treated.Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include a new family,five new genera,61 new species,five new combinations,one synonym,one new variety and 31 records on new hosts or new geographical distributions.Ageratinicolaceae fam.nov.is introduced and accommodated in Pleosporales.The new genera introduced in this study are Ageratinicola,Kevinia,Pseudomultiseptospora(Parabambusicolaceae),Marasmiellomycena,and Vizzinia(Porotheleaceae).Newly described species are Abrothallus altoandinus,Ageratinicola kunmingensis,Allocryptovalsa aceris,Allophoma yuccae,Apiospora cannae,A.elliptica,A.pallidesporae,Boeremia wisteriae,Calycina papaeana,Clypeo-coccum lichenostigmoides,Coniochaeta riskali-shoyakubovii,Cryphonectria kunmingensis,Diaporthe angustiapiculata,D.campylandrae,D.longipapillata,Diatrypella guangdongense,Dothiorella franceschinii,Endocalyx phoenicis,Epicoc-cum terminosporum,Fulvifomes karaiensis,F.pannaensis,Ganoderma ghatensis,Hysterobrevium baoshanense,Inocybe avellaneorosea,I.lucida,Jahnula oblonga,Kevinia lignicola,Kirschsteiniothelia guangdongensis,Laboulbenia caprina,L.clavulata,L.cobiae,L.cosmodisci,L.nilotica,L.omalii,L.robusta,L.similis,L.stigmatophora,Laccaria rubriporus,Lasiodiplodia morindae,Lyophyllum agnijum,Marasmiellomycena pseudoomphaliiformis,Melomastia beihaiensis,Nemania guangdongensis,Nigrograna thailandica,Nigrospora ficuum,Oxydothis chinensis,O.yunnanensis,Petriella thailandica,Phaeoacremonium chinensis,Phialocephala chinensis,Phytophthora debattistii,Polyplosphaeria nigrospora,Pronectria loweniae,Seriascoma acutispora,Setoseptoria bambusae,Stictis anomianthi,Tarzetta tibetensis,Tarzetta urceolata,Tetraploa obpyriformis,Trichoglossum beninense,and Tricoderma pyrrosiae.We provide an emendation for Urnula ailaoshanensis Agaricus duplocingulatoides var.brevisporus introduced as a new variety based on morphology and phylogeny.