Oliver's mTOR Atlas Evidence Platform
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Rapamycin across biology and medicine: From molecular mechanisms to clinical and translational frontiers

Nolasco LNRA, de Vargas Wolfgramm Dos Santos E, Dos Reis Trabach RS, Meira DD, Louro ID · 2026 · Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, General Subjects · Atlas ID NOL2026

What this study shows

Comprehensive review tracing rapamycin from its discovery as an antifungal macrolide to its identification as the founding mTOR inhibitor. Covers mTOR's role integrating nutrient/growth-factor/stress signals, established and emerging clinical applications of rapamycin/rapalogs, limitations and adverse effects of mTOR inhibition, and translational prospects for using mTOR inhibition to prevent or delay chronic disease and extend healthspan.

Abstract

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Rapamycin is a macrolide compound originally identified for its antifungal activity and subsequently recognized as a potent inhibitor of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), a conserved signaling kinase that integrates nutrient availability, growth factor signals, and cellular stress responses to regulate cell growth and metabolism. This review examines rapamycin across biological and medical fields, covering its discovery, chemical and pharmacological properties, and the central role of mTOR as its primary molecular target.

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At a glance

Evidence type R Review — secondary literature, not a new result Marked R because it is a review or synthesis of existing evidence rather than a new primary result; that is a different form of writing, not a weaker one.
Study typeNarrative Review
Model systemNarrative review (no primary experimental model)
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta, General Subjects
Year2026
Peer reviewedYes
Record last updated2026-09-23
SourceDOI 10.1016/j.bbagen.2026.131009 · PMID 42785697

Cite this paper

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Nolasco LNRA, de Vargas Wolfgramm Dos Santos, E., Dos Reis Trabach, R. S., Meira, D. D., & Louro, I. D. (2026). Rapamycin across biology and medicine: From molecular mechanisms to clinical and translational frontiers. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, General Subjects. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2026.131009

@article{NOL2026,
  author       = {Nolasco LNRA and de Vargas Wolfgramm Dos Santos, E. and Dos Reis Trabach, R. S. and Meira, D. D. and Louro, I. D.},
  title        = {{Rapamycin across biology and medicine: From molecular mechanisms to clinical and translational frontiers}},
  journal      = {Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, General Subjects},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.bbagen.2026.131009},
  note         = {PMID: 42785697},
}

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 NOL2026) [Data set]. https://mtor-atlas.org/study/NOL2026/ · Dataset DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22059963

@misc{atlas_NOL2026,
  author       = {Barton, Oliver},
  title        = {{Oliver's mTOR Atlas}, record NOL2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://mtor-atlas.org/study/NOL2026/},
  doi          = {10.5281/zenodo.22059963}
}