Cited by 381Metabolism, Diabetes, and CancerPI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancerBiochemical and Molecular Research

AMP ‐activated protein kinase: a cellular energy sensor that comes in 12 flavours

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Ross, Fiona A., MacKintosh, Carol, Hardie, D. Grahame·2016·The FEBS Journal

Abstract

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a sensor of cellular energy status that is expressed in essentially all eukaryotic cells, suggesting that it arose during early eukaryotic evolution. It occurs universally as heterotrimeric complexes containing catalytic α subunits and regulatory β and γ subunits. Although Drosophila melanogaster contains single genes encoding each subunit, in mammals, each subunit exists as multiple isoforms encoded by distinct genes, giving rise to up to 12 heterotrimeric combinations. The multiple isoforms of each subunit are 2R-ohnologues generated by the two rounds of whole genome duplication that occurred at the evolutionary origin of the vertebrates. Although the differential roles of these isoform combinations remain only partly understood, there are indications that they may have different subcellular locations, different inputs and outputs, and different functions. The multiple isoforms are of particular interest with respect to the roles of AMPK in cancer because the genes encoding some isoforms, such as PRKAA1 and PRKAB2 (encoding α1 and β2), are quite frequently amplified in tumour cells, whereas the genes encoding others, such as PRKAA2 (encoding α2), tend to be mutated, which, in some but not all cases, may result in a loss of function. Thus, although AMPK acts downstream of the tumour suppressor liver kinase B1, and some of its isoform combinations may act as tumour suppressors that restrain the growth and proliferation of tumour cells, other isoform combinations may paradoxically act as oncogenes, perhaps by aiding the survival of tumour cells undergoing environmental stresses such as hypoxia or nutrient deprivation.

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  • All possible combinations of AMPK subunits produce 12 different AMPK complexes.

    “Each AMPK complex is comprised of an α-subunit, a β-subunit, and a γ-subunit, and all possible combinations produce 12 different AMPK complexes [23].”

    From AMPK, Mitochondrial Function, and Cardiovascular Disease (2020) · cites this paper as [23]

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Authors
Ross, F. A., MacKintosh, C., & Hardie, D. G.
Affiliations
University of Dundee (GB)
Corresponding author
Hardie, D. Grahame
Venue
The FEBS Journal
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016-03-24
Volume
283
Issue
16
Pages
2987-3001
ISSN
  • 1742-464X (ISSN-L)
  • 1742-4658
OpenAlex
W2320228393
Cited by
381
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 49 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 10
FWCI
3.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • FEBS Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (097726)
  • Cancer Research UK (C37030/A15101)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancer
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Biochemical and Molecular Research
Keywords
AMPK, AMPK isoforms, heterotrimeric complex, energy sensing, PRKAA1, PRKAA2, cancer, tumour suppressor, oncogenes, LKB1, hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, subcellular localization
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Isoenzymes, Neoplasms, Oncogene Proteins, Evolution, Molecular, Protein Subunits, Tumor Suppressor Proteins, AMP-Activated Protein Kinases

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