Timothy R. Peterson
Discovered DEPTOR, the mTOR-binding protein overexpressed in multiple myeloma
PhD, David Sabatini lab, Whitehead Institute/MIT · Associate Professor of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis
Profile, WashU Musculoskeletal Center ↗
Portrait: Washington University Musculoskeletal Research Center
Tim Peterson did his graduate work in David Sabatini's lab, where in 2009 he led the discovery of DEPTOR, a protein that binds mTOR directly and inhibits both mTORC1 and mTORC2 — and that is selectively overexpressed in a subset of multiple myeloma cells, which depend on it for survival despite it being an mTOR inhibitor, a paradox his paper worked out mechanistically.
He went on to show that mTORC1 also controls lipin 1 localization to regulate the SREBP lipid-synthesis pathway, linking mTOR signalling directly to lipid metabolism. He now runs his own lab at Washington University in St. Louis, studying genomics, metabolism and aging.
The timeline below follows Peterson's contributions gathered in this Atlas.
Milestones in the Atlas
| Year | Evidence | Study |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | M | PRAS40 is an insulin-regulated inhibitor of the mTORC1 protein kinase SAN2007 Co-authors the discovery of PRAS40 as an insulin-regulated inhibitor of the mTORC1 protein kinase. |
| 2009 | M | DEPTOR is an mTOR inhibitor frequently overexpressed in multiple myeloma cells and required for their survival PET2009 Leads the discovery of DEPTOR, an mTOR inhibitor frequently overexpressed in multiple myeloma cells and required for their survival. |
| 2011 | M | mTOR complex 1 regulates lipin 1 localization to control the SREBP pathway PET2011 Shows mTOR complex 1 regulates lipin 1 localization to control the SREBP lipid-synthesis pathway. |