Fig. 1

Amino acid metabolism in effector T cells. Various amino acids are transported by SLC transporters into the cytoplasm. These amino acids activate sensor proteins in the cytoplasm such as mTOR, GCN2, and Sestrin (highlighted in green bold font), directly activate the TCR-CD3 complex, or are metabolized further to affect T cell development and survival. Solid lines represent effects and reactions in T cells, and dashed lines represent uncertain effects and reactions in T cells. The arrow line represents activation and the line with a bar at the end represents inhibition. AHR Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; Ala Alanine; Arg Arginine; Asn Asparagine; BCAT Branched-chain aminotransferases; Gclc Glutamate cysteine ligase; GCN2 General control nonderepressible 2; Gln Glutamine; GSH Glutathione; HMB β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate; iNOS Inducible isoform of NO synthase; Kyn Kynurenine; Leu Leucine; Met Methionine; MHC Major histocompatibility complex; mTORC1 Mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase complex 1; Ser Serine; SHMT2 Mitochondrial serine hydroxymethyltransferase; SLC Solute carrier; TCR T cell receptor; Trp Tryptophan