Alcohol induces p53-mediated apoptosis in neural crest by stimulating the AMPK-mediated suppression of TORC1, p70/S6K, and ribosomal biogenesis.

We conclude that alcohol induces ribosome dysbiogenesis and activates their p53/MDM2-mediated apoptosis via its activation of pAMPK, which in turn activates Raptor to suppress the TORC1/S6K-mediated promotion of ribosome biogenesis. This represents a novel mechanism underlying alcohol's neurotoxicity and is consistent with findings that TORC1/S6K networks are critical for cranial NC survival.