The RICTOR (Rapamycin-Insensitive Companion of mTOR) antibody is a crucial tool in studying the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2), a key regulator of cell growth, survival, and metabolism. RICTOR serves as a defining subunit of mTORC2. distinguishing it from mTORC1. Unlike mTORC1. mTORC2 is insensitive to rapamycin and phosphorylates substrates like AKT (at Ser473), SGK1. and PKCα, influencing processes such as cytoskeletal organization and apoptosis. Dysregulation of RICTOR/mTORC2 is linked to cancer, diabetes, and aging, driving interest in its therapeutic targeting.
RICTOR antibodies are widely used in biomedical research to detect protein expression, assess complex formation, and evaluate phosphorylation-dependent signaling. They enable techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunoprecipitation (IP), and immunofluorescence (IF). Specificity varies among commercial antibodies, requiring validation via knockout cell lines or siRNA-mediated RICTOR depletion. Some antibodies target unique epitopes (e.g., N-terminal or C-terminal regions) to avoid cross-reactivity with homologous proteins like Raptor (mTORC1 subunit).
Research applications include investigating mTORC2's role in tumor progression, metabolic disorders, and drug resistance. For example, RICTOR amplification in cancers correlates with poor prognosis, and its inhibition shows potential in preclinical models. However, challenges persist in distinguishing mTORC2-specific functions due to overlapping pathways and incomplete pharmacological inhibitors, underscoring the antibody's utility in mechanistic studies. Validated RICTOR antibodies remain essential for advancing mTOR-related therapeutic strategies.