Understanding the Role of ztor in Aging-related Diseases Using the Zebrafish Model

Abstract

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a 289 kDa serine/threonine protein kinase of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-related family is known for its role in regulating lifespan and the aging process in humans and rodents. Aging in zebrafish very much resembles aging in humans. Aged zebrafish often manifest with spinal curvature, cataracts and cognitive frailty, akin to human age-related phenotypical effects such as osteoarthritis, dwindling vision and cognitive dysfunction. However, the role of the zebrafish orthologue of mTOR, ztor, is less defined in these areas. This review paper discusses the tale of growing old in the zebrafish, the physiological roles of ztor in normal developmental processes and its involvement in the pathogenesis of aging-related diseases such as metabolic disorders and cancers.

Keywords: Aging-related diseases; developmental; mTOR; review; zebrafish; ztor.