Figure 8.

TOR functions in two complexes in eukaryotes. (A) TOR participates in two complexes in yeast and mammals. The first of these, TORC1, regulates cell growth in response to nutrient and hormonal signals. Raptor is integral for TORC1 activity. The second of these, TORC2, regulates cytoskeletal organization. Its activity is nutrient-independent, and Raptor is not a component of TORC2. (B) Model of TOR function in plants. Embryonic development is indicated by the single horizontal arrow from zygote to seedling; meristem-driven post-embryonic development is indicated by the arrows emanating from the seedling root and shoot apices. TOR, acting independent of Raptor in a putative complex homologous to yeast and mammalian TORC2, is essential for embryonic development. TOR via TORC2 may play a role in post-embryonic development as well; the embryonic lethal AtTOR knockout phenotype precludes a definitive answer on this point. Raptor activity, in a putative plant homologue of TORC1, is dispensable for embryonic development but is essential for meristem-driven post-embryonic growth.