Targeting PRAS40 for multiple diseases

•PRAS40 bridges the cell signaling between Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin.•PRAS40 negatively regulates mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1.•PRAS40 may function through mammalian target of rapamycin independent pathways.•PRAS40 can promote programmed cell death (apoptosis and autophagy).•PRAS40 is implicated in diabetes, cancer, cardiac and neurological diseases.

Proline-rich Akt substrate 40 kDa (PRAS40) bridges cell signaling between protein kinase B (Akt) and the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Both Akt and mTORC1 can phosphorylate PRAS40. As a negative regulator of mTORC1, PRAS40 prevents the binding of mTOR to its substrates. The phosphorylation of PRAS40 results in its dissociation from mTORC1 and enhanced mTOR activation. PRAS40 in conjunction with mTORC1 has been closely associated with programmed cell death and is implicated in diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurological diseases. Thus, targeting PRAS40 might hold great promise for innovative therapeutic strategies for these diseases.