In Germany, researchers studying the TOR protein discovered this protein also functions as a growth regulator in plants, just as TOR is known to act as a signal generator that controls both survival and cell growth in human and animal cells.
The TOR protein sets the stage for growth only when there is sufficient sulphate available to nourish the plant. The information on the sulphate content of the soil is transmitted to the cells via sugar but not via amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. “This finding can contribute to cultivating nutrient-efficient crops which can then be used in sustainable agriculture,” said Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Hell of Heidelberg University.
TOR’s regulatory function is also a target for tumor medications. Whereas TOR is active in healthy human cells only in the presence of sufficient amino acids, an out-of-control TOR protein in cancer cells contributes to rampant tumor proliferation.