The target of rapamycin (TOR), an evolutionarily conservative Ser/Thr protein kinase, can perceive signals such as nutritional status, energy and growth factors to regulate cell growth, proliferation and apoptosis and other physiological processes. The upstream and downstream signaling pathways of TOR and the effects of various amino acids on signaling transduction pathways were reviewed in this paper, which provides a theoretical basis and innovative ideas for discussing amino acid regulation of protein synthesis and the establishment of the precise mechanism of nutrient supply technology.［Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition，2011，23（4）：529 -535］