The kinase mammalian (mechanistic) target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) belongs to the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-related kinase (PIKK) family and plays a key role in the dendritic translation of synaptic proteins. As such, mTORC1 plays a major role in the molecular mechanisms associated with learning and memory147 and is involved in several brain disorders, including epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and addiction.148,149 Exposure to drug and alcohol cues activates the mTORC1 pathway in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala.149 Even more compelling, blockade of the mTORC1 pathway systemically blocked the reconsolidation of cocaine memories,150 and blockade of mTORC1 in the amygdala blocked the reconsolidation of alcohol memories;151 these results suggest a potential molecular target for the treatment of relapse.
