The proline-rich Akt substrate of 40 kilodaltons (PRAS40) was identified as a raptor-binding protein that is phosphorylated directly by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) but not mTORC2 in vitro, predominantly at PRAS40 (Ser 183 ). The binding of S6K1 and 4E-BP1 to raptor requires a TOR signaling (TOS) motif, which contains an essential Phe followed by four alternating acidic and small hydrophobic amino acids. PRAS40 binding to raptor was severely inhibited by mutation of PRAS40 (Phe 129 to Ala). Immediately carboxyl-terminal to Phe 129 are two small hydrophobic amino acid followed by two acidic residues. PRAS40 binding to raptor was also abolished by mutation of the major mTORC1 phosphorylation site, Ser 183 , to Asp. PRAS40 (Ser 183 ) was phosphorylated in intact cells; this phosphorylation was inhibited by rapamycin, by 2-deoxyglucose, and by overexpression of the tuberous sclerosis complex heterodimer. PRAS40 (Ser 183 ) phosphorylation was also inhibited reversibly by withdrawal of all or of only the branched chain amino acids; this inhibition was reversed by overexpression of the Rheb GTPase. Overexpressed PRAS40 suppressed the phosphorylation of S6K1 and 4E-BP1 at their rapamycin-sensitive phosphorylation sites, and reciprocally, overexpression of S6K1 or 4E-BP1 suppressed phosphorylation of PRAS40 (Ser 183 ) and its binding to raptor. RNA interference-induced depletion of PRAS40 enhanced the amino acid-stimulated phosphorylation of both S6K1 and 4E-BP1. These results establish PRAS40 as a physiological mTORC1 substrate that contains a variant TOS motif. Moreover, they indicate that the ability of raptor to bind endogenous substrates is limiting for the activity of mTORC1 in vivo and is therefore a potential locus of regulation.The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) 3 is the founding member of the PI-3 kinase-related family of protein (Ser/ Thr) kinases (PIKKs) and controls many important aspects of the cellular response to nutrient sufficiency and growth factors (1). The mTOR polypeptide is now known to function in two distinct, independently regulated hetero-oligomeric complexes, called mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2). Both complexes contain mTOR and the polypeptide mLST8/G␤L; mTORC1 in addition contains raptor (an ortholog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae KOG1), which binds directly to the known mTORC1 substrates S6K1 and 4E-BP1 and is indispensable for their phosphorylation by mTOR in vivo and in vitro. mTORC2 lacks raptor but contains the polypeptides rictor (an ortholog to ScAVO3) and mSin1 (an ortholog of ScAVO1). mTORC2 is one of the activating kinases for Akt, previously called PDK2, and also regulates the actin cytoskeleton through as yet unidentified effectors. Although rapamycin, in complex with FKBP12, binds directly to mTOR in a segment just amino-terminal to the catalytic domain, only mTORC1 binds the FKBP12-rapamycin complex, and thus only mTORC1 is directly susceptible to inhibition by rapamycin.Rapamycin is among the most selective kinase inhibitors k...