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The mTOR pathway is an essential regulator of cell growth and metabolism. Midbrain dopamine neurons are particularly sensitive to mTOR signaling status as activation or inhibition of mTOR alters their morphology and physiology. mTOR exists in two distinct multiprotein complexes termed mTORC1 and mTORC2. How each of these complexes affect dopamine neuron properties, and whether they have similar or distinct functions is unknown. Here, we investigated this in mice with dopamine neuron-specific deletion of Rptor or Rictor, which encode obligatory components of mTORC1 or mTORC2, respectively. We find that inhibition of mTORC1 strongly and broadly impacts dopamine neuron structure and function causing somatodendritic and axonal hypotrophy, increased intrinsic excitability, decreased dopamine production, and impaired dopamine release. In contrast, inhibition of mTORC2 has more subtle effects, with selective alterations to the output of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons. Disruption of both mTOR complexes leads to pronounced deficits in dopamine release demonstrating the importance of balanced mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling for dopaminergic function.

Original publication

DOI

10.7554/eLife.75398

Type

Journal article

Journal

Elife

Publication Date

26/07/2022

Volume

11

Keywords

TSC, dopamine neurons, mTORC1, mTORC2, mouse, neuroscience, raptor, rictor, Animals, Dopamine, Dopaminergic Neurons, Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1, Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2, Mice, TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases