mTORC1 activity oscillates throughout the cell cycle, promoting mitotic entry and differentially influencing autophagy induction

Joshi JN, Valvezan AJ et al. · 2024 · Cell Reports · Atlas ID JOS2024

What this study shows

mTORC1 activity oscillates across the cell cycle (lowest in mitosis/G1, highest in S/G2) via the TSC complex, independent of Akt/Mek-Erk; low mTORC1 in G1 sensitizes cells to autophagy induction from the same partial inhibition or nutrient drop -- direct evidence that the TIMING/pattern of mTORC1 activity, not just its average level, shapes autophagy outcome.

Abstract

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Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) is a master metabolic regulator that is active in nearly all proliferating eukaryotic cells; however, it is unclear whether mTORC1 activity changes throughout the cell cycle. We find that mTORC1 activity oscillates from lowest in mitosis/G1 to highest in S/G2. The interphase oscillation is mediated through the TSC complex but is independent of major known regulatory inputs, including Akt and Mek/Erk signaling. By contrast, suppression of mTORC1 activity in mitosis does not require the TSC complex.

Read the full abstract on PubMed →

At a glance

Evidence type	M Molecular — cells, biochemistry, structure Marked M because it is molecular or in-vitro work (model: Human & mouse cell lines (live single-cell imaging)) rather than a whole-organism health-outcome study. That is often exactly where causal biology gets established -- the code says which system the finding was shown in, and nothing about how good the work is.
Study type	5 - Mechanistic / In Vitro
Model system	Human & mouse cell lines (live single-cell imaging)
Journal	Cell Reports
Year	2024
Peer reviewed	Yes
Record last updated	2026-08-22
Source	DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114543 · PMID 39067023 · Free full text (PMC12730006)

Extracted findings

Intervention	Partial mTORC1 inhibition; nutrient reduction; cell-cycle synchronization
Target	mTORC1 / TSC complex
Model	Human & mouse cell lines
Effect	mTORC1 activity oscillates across the cell cycle (low mitosis/G1, high S/G2); low-mTORC1 G1 cells are more sensitive to autophagy induction

In the Atlas

Cite this paper

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Joshi, J. N., et al. (2024). mTORC1 activity oscillates throughout the cell cycle, promoting mitotic entry and differentially influencing autophagy induction. Cell Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114543

@article{JOS2024,
  author       = {Joshi, J. N. and Valvezan, A. J. and others},
  title        = {{mTORC1 activity oscillates throughout the cell cycle, promoting mitotic entry and differentially influencing autophagy induction}},
  journal      = {Cell Reports},
  year         = {2024},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114543},
  note         = {PMID: 39067023},
}

Cite this Atlas record

The record is the Atlas's own work — the evidence label, the extracted findings and the links. It is cited as part of the dataset, not as the paper.

Barton, O. (2026). Oliver's mTOR Atlas (record JOS2024) [Data set]. https://mtor-atlas.org/study/JOS2024/ · Dataset DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22059963

@misc{atlas_JOS2024,
  author       = {Barton, Oliver},
  title        = {{Oliver's mTOR Atlas}, record JOS2024},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://mtor-atlas.org/study/JOS2024/},
  doi          = {10.5281/zenodo.22059963}
}