AMPK: Mechanisms of Cellular Energy Sensing and Restoration of Metabolic Balance

Overview

Journal Mol Cell

Publisher Cell Press

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 2017 Jun 17

PMID 28622524

Citations 795

Authors

Daniel Garcia

Reuben J Shaw

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

AMPK is a highly conserved master regulator of metabolism, which restores energy balance during metabolic stress both at the cellular and physiological levels. The identification of numerous AMPK targets has helped explain how AMPK restores energy homeostasis. Recent advancements illustrate novel mechanisms of AMPK regulation, including changes in subcellular localization and phosphorylation by non-canonical upstream kinases. Notably, the therapeutic potential of AMPK is widely recognized and heavily pursued for treatment of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, but also obesity, inflammation, and cancer. Moreover, the recently solved crystal structure of AMPK has shed light both into how nucleotides activate AMPK and, importantly, also into the sites bound by small molecule activators, thus providing a path for improved drugs.

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