Cited by 481Metabolism, Diabetes, and CancerAdipose Tissue and MetabolismExercise and Physiological Responses

AMPK and the biochemistry of exercise: implications for human health and disease

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Richter, Erik A., Ruderman, Neil B.·2009·Biochemical Journal

Abstract

AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is a phylogenetically conserved fuel-sensing enzyme that is present in all mammalian cells. During exercise, it is activated in skeletal muscle in humans, and at least in rodents, also in adipose tissue, liver and perhaps other organs by events that increase the AMP/ATP ratio. When activated, AMPK stimulates energy-generating processes such as glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation and decreases energy-consuming processes such as protein and lipid synthesis. Exercise is perhaps the most powerful physiological activator of AMPK and a unique model for studying its many physiological roles. In addition, it improves the metabolic status of rodents with a metabolic syndrome phenotype, as does treatment with AMPK-activating agents; it is therefore tempting to attribute the therapeutic benefits of regular physical activity to activation of AMPK. Here we review the acute and chronic effects of exercise on AMPK activity in skeletal muscle and other tissues. We also discuss the potential role of AMPK activation in mediating the prevention and treatment by exercise of specific disorders associated with the metabolic syndrome, including Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

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Crossref · 10.1042/bj20082055

Cites

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  • Stress-responsive proteins such as serine/threonine kinase 11 and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2 can phosphorylate AMPK at Thr172 and increase its activity.

    “Stress-responsive proteins, such as serine/threonine kinase 11 and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2, can also act to phosphorylate AMPK at the Thr172 residue and increase its activity (Richter and Ruderman, 2009).”

    From Skeletal Muscle Ribosome and Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Response to Different Exercise Training Modalities (2021) · cites this paper as Richter and Ruderman, 2009

    The Regulation of AMPK section identifies LKB1 (serine/threonine kinase 11) as an upstream AMPK kinase and says phosphorylation at Thr172 increases AMPK activity. Its “CAMKK, TAK-1 and SIRT1” subsection says CaMKKβ can phosphorylate AMPK at Thr172, but CaMKK is calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase, not the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2 named in the claim. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Active AMPK stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and angiogenesis, and increases appetite at hypothalamic level by stimulating secretion of adiponectin, which promotes glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation in muscle cells.

    “Furthermore, active AMPK stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and angiogenesis, and increases appetite at the hypothalamic level by stimulating the secretion of adiponectin, which in turn promotes glucose uptake by and fatty acid oxidation in muscle cells [21,22].”

    From Exercise-Induced Muscle–Fat Crosstalk: Molecular Mediators and Their Pharmacological Modulation for the Maintenance of Metabolic Flexibility in Aging (2025) · cites this paper as [22]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) links AMPK to mitochondrial biogenesis, angiogenesis, and hypothalamic control of food intake. The Hypothalamus section reports that increased hypothalamic AMPK activity accompanies increased food intake, while the muscle-metabolism section describes AMPK-related glucose uptake and fatty-acid oxidation. The paper does not support the claimed chain in which AMPK stimulates adiponectin secretion, which then produces the appetite and muscle effects. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • High AMP concentrations during exercise lead to increased binding of AMP with AMPK.

    “High adenosine monophosphate (AMP) concentrations during exercise (as a result of high ATP turnover) lead to increased binding of AMP with AMPK (Richter and Ruderman, 2009)”

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 9

  1. [51]Galbo H Groot De Integrated endocrine responses and exercise Endocrinology 1995 3rd ed Philadelphia W.B.Saunders 2692 2701
  2. [79]Jensen TE Rose AJ Jorgensen SB Brandt N Schjerling P Wojtaszewski JF Richter EA Possible CaMKK-dependent regulation of AMPK phosphorylation and glucose uptake at the onset of mild tetanic skeletal muscle contraction Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2007 292 E1308 E1317 17213473
  3. [84]Jorgensen SB Treebak JT Viollet B Schjerling P Vaulont S Wojtaszewski JF Richter EA Role of AMPK{alpha}2 in basal, training-, and AICAR-induced GLUT4, hexokinase II, and mitochondrial protein expression in mouse muscle Am.J.Physiol Endocrinol.Metab 2007 292 E331 E339 16954334
  4. [89]Kelly M Keller C Avilucea PR Keller P Luo Z Xiang X Giralt M Hidalgo J Saha AK Pedersen BK Ruderman NB AMPK activity is diminished in tissues of IL-6 knockout mice: the effect of exercise Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2004 320 449 454 15219849
  5. [95]Koh H-J Fujii N Toyoda T Jung MM Hirshman MF Goodyear LJ The AMPK-related protein kinase SNARK mediates contraction-stimulated glucose transport in mouse skeletal muscle Diabetes 2008 57 A91 Ap2 (Abstract) PMC2932588 20713714
  6. [174]Sakamoto K Goransson O Hardie DG Alessi DR Activity of LKB1 and AMPK-related kinases in skeletal muscle: effects of contraction, phenformin, and AICAR Am.J.Physiol Endocrinol.Metab 2004 287 E310 E317 15068958
  7. [193]Thomson DM Porter BB Tall JH Kim HJ Barrow JR Winder WW Skeletal muscle and heart LKB1 deficiency causes decreased voluntary running and reduced muscle mitochondrial marker enzyme expression in mice Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2007 292 E196 E202 16926377
  8. [195]Treebak JT Birk JB Rose AJ Kiens B Richter EA Wojtaszewski JF AS160 phosphorylation is associated with activation of alpha2beta2gamma1- but not alpha2beta2gamma3-AMPK trimeric complex in skeletal muscle during exercise in humans Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2007 292 E715 E722 17077344
  9. [215]Wojtaszewski JF MacDonald C Nielsen JN Hellsten Y Hardie GD Kemp BE Kiens B Richter EA Regulation of 5'AMP-activated protein kinase activity and substrate utilization in exercising human skeletal muscle Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2002 12488245

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Authors
Richter, E. A., & Ruderman, N. B.
Affiliations
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Boston University (US)
Venue
Biochemical Journal
Published
2009-02-11
Volume
418
Issue
2
Pages
261-275
ISSN
  • 0264-6021 (ISSN-L)
  • 1470-8728
OpenAlex
W2060851332
Cited by
481
References
228
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 30
FWCI
2.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biochemical Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01dk019514-35)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (P01HL068758)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01 DK19514, R01DK067509, R01-DK-019514)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords
AMPK, physical activity, AMP/ATP ratio, skeletal muscle, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation, energy metabolism, AMPK activators
MeSH terms
Animals, Disease, Health, Humans, Models, Biological, Motor Activity, Muscle Contraction, Time Factors, Biomarkers, Exercise, Muscle, Skeletal, AMP-Activated Protein Kinases

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