Rapamycin

Rapamycin (also known as sirolimus) is a well established Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR; FRAP1) Inhibitor. Other validated mechanisms of action include cytochrome P450 (various isoforms) inhibition and P-glycoprotein (MDR-1; ABCB1) inhibition. Rapamycin is a naturally occurring macrolide produced by the bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Several semisynthetic 'rapalogs' have been generated which alter key pharmaceutical properties of the probe. These agents include everolimus, ridaforolimus and temsirolimus. Rapamycin and the rapalogs are wonderful agents for interrogating Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR; FRAP1) and can ideally be used alongside synthetic inhibitors (such as Vistusertib) which often target both the mTORC1 and mTORC2 complex (as well as the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) enzyme class).