mRNA translation (protein synthesis) is one of the most energy consuming processes in the cell. Energy metabolism and protein synthesis are dysregulated in several pathological states including cancer. However, how mRNA translation and energy production are coordinated remains underexplored.

The mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a major pathway that regulates mRNA translation. Our recent findings demonstrate that mTOR plays a pivotal role in coordinating protein synthesis and mitochondrial energy production via 4E-BP-dependent perturbations of the translatome. A subset of mTOR-sensitive mRNAs with short 5’ UTRs are enriched in those encoding proteins with mitochondrial functions. These mRNAs exhibit

Our recent findings demonstrate that mTOR plays a pivotal role in coordinating protein synthesis and mitochondrial energy production via 4E-BP-dependent perturbations of the translatome. A subset of mTOR-sensitive mRNAs with short 5’ UTRs are enriched in those encoding proteins with mitochondrial functions. These mRNAs exhibit

The mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a major pathway that regulates mRNA translation. Our recent findings demonstrate that mTOR plays a pivotal role in coordinating protein synthesis and mitochondrial energy production via 4E-BP-dependent perturbations of the translatome. A subset of mTOR-sensitive mRNAs with short 5’ UTRs are enriched in those encoding proteins with mitochondrial functions. These mRNAs exhibit a unique mode of translation, inasmuch as they are sensitive to fluctuations in mRNA 5’ cap binding protein eIF4E, but not eIF4A helicase levels.

Implications of these findings on targeting metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer will be discussed