Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase that controls cell growth, primarily via regulation of protein synthesis. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, TOR can also suppress the transcription of stress response genes by a mechanism involving Tap42, a serine/threonine phosphatase subunit, and the transcription factor Msn2. A physical association between mammalian TOR (mTOR) and the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1) was recently identified in human cells, suggesting a similar role for mTOR in the transcription of interferon-␥-stimulated genes. In the current study, we identified a macromolecular protein complex composed of mTOR, STAT1, the Tap42 homologue ␣4, and the protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit (PP2Ac). Inactivation of mTOR enhanced its association with STAT1 and increased STAT1 nuclear content in PP2Ac-dependent fashion. Depletion of ␣4, PP2A, or mTOR enhanced the induction of early (i.e. IRF-1) and late (i.e. caspase-1, hiNOS, and Fas) STAT1-dependent genes. The regulation of IRF-1 or caspase-1 by mTOR was independent of other known mTOR effectors p70 S6 kinase and Akt. These results describe a new role for mTOR and ␣4/PP2A in the control of STAT1 nuclear content, and the expression of interferon-␥-sensitive genes involved in immunity and apoptosis.The macrocyclic lactone rapamycin (Sirolimus, Rapamune TM ), as well as its analogues temsirolimus (CCI-779, Torisel TM ) and everolimus (RAD-001, Certican TM ), are approved for immunosuppression after organ transplantation, treatment of renal cell carcinoma, and the prevention of coronary artery in-stent restenosis (1). Their only known target is mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), 3 a highly conserved protein that controls cell growth in response to mitogens and changes in cellular metabolism. The effects of mTOR on cell growth involve the phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase (S6K) and the translation inhibitor 4E-BP1, key regulators of ribosomal biogenesis and the initiation of protein synthesis (2). In contrast to its role in the initiation of translation, the current study focuses on mTOR as a regulator of mammalian gene transcription. Studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have revealed possible mechanisms by which mTOR might control mammalian transcription factors. TOR-regulated transcriptional control pathways include ribosomal biogenesis, the nutrient deprivation response, and the stress response (3). TOR stimulates 35 S ribosomal RNA expression and ribosomal biogenesis in nutrientdependent fashion. Inhibition of TOR (e.g. rapamycin or amino acid depletion) reproduces a catabolic response in part by inhibiting rRNA synthesis. In the nutrient deprivation and stress responses, TOR controls the nuclear localization of key transcription factors by mechanisms that require its associated serine/threonine phosphatases (i.e. Pph21, Pph22, or Sit4) and their adaptor, Tap42 (3). Rapamycin blocks phosphorylation of the transcription factor Gln3, as well as its cytosolic scaffolding protein Ure...