Mechanistic finding may help deal with side effects of lifespan-extending drug rapamycin

(Buck Institute for Age Research) Rapamycin extends lifespan in mice up to 30 percent, making it of major interest to scientists studying aging. But long term use of rapamycin, approved for use in several disease indications, has side effects. Researchers at the Buck Institute have discovered new insights into how rapamycin inhibits the nutrient signaling pathway mTOR -- a finding that could provide a way to avoid or eliminate side effects of the drug.