When a cell uses more energy than it produces, the ratio of AMP to ATP rises. AMPK detects that change and reacts like a crisis manager: it stimulates glucose uptake and fat oxidation, and holds back the synthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids and proteins, processes that use a lot of energy.
Exercise, fasting and certain substances activate AMPK. Among drugs, metformin activates it indirectly. In peptide research, MOTS-c has been linked to activation of this pathway in cell and animal models, which explains the interest in it for glucose metabolism and the response to exercise.
AMPK is also connected to other ageing and nutrition pathways, such as sirtuins and mTOR, forming a network of sensors that adjusts metabolism to the availability of energy.
Many “metabolic” compounds are described as AMPK activators. It is worth checking whether the data come from cells, animals or people, because activation in a culture does not guarantee an effect in the organism.
Related terms
Learn it in depth at the Peptide University
- Longevity and mitochondrial function · Module 6
- Complementary monographs (16–20) · Module 14
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