mTOR is a protein complex that registers amino acids and activates cellular building processes when protein is abundant.

“The first one is mTOR, which stands for mammalian target of rapamycin, the drug rapamycin. We talked a little bit about it in the last episode, but let's refresh everybody's memory. This is protein complex in the cell that registers amino acids. When you have a lot of protein, you eat a big steak. It's going to activate this mTOR protein complex that allows the cell, causes the cell to build things.”