AMPK and transcriptional regulation

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an energy sensing enzyme that once activated, promotes energy production and limits energy utilisation to ensure cellular survival. In addition to targeting numerous metabolic enzymes for this purpose, it is becoming apparent that AMPK can also regulate a number of transcriptional processes. These processes ensure cell survival through the inhibition of cell cycle and growth mechanisms, and also prepare the cell for future perturbations in energy balance by increasing the capacity of the cell to produce ATP. While these adaptations might be inextricably linked through regulation of the proliferation-differentiation process, recent studies have identified a number of transcriptional regulators as AMPK substrates that give insights into the regulation of transcription by AMPK in a number of metabolically active tissues.