Regulation of Metabolic Pathways and Energy Needs

AMPK regulates energy expenditure by modulating NAD+ metabolism and SIRT1 activity, is a letter published in the journal Nature (online publication March 4, 2009 | doi:10.1038/nature07813). It was authored by Carles Cantó, Zachary Gerhart-Hines, Jerome N. Feige, Marie Lagouge, Lilia Noriega, Jill C. Milne, Peter J. Elliott, Pere Puigserver and Johan Auwerx. The paper is focused on the function of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) which acts as a sensor that detects changes in the ratio of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to adenosine triphosphate (ATP within cells.

AMPK activation helps ensure that cells have sufficient stores of energy to meet their needs. This can be effected by suppressing anabolic pathways that consume ATP (a biochemical energy currency found in living organisms) while switching on catabolic pathways which generate ATP.