title: AMP-activated protein kinase as a drug target.
abstract: The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) system is a regulator of energy balance at both the cellular and whole-body levels that, once activated by low energy status, effects a switch from ATP-consuming anabolic pathways to ATP-producing catabolic pathways. It now appears to be the major target for two existing classes of drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, i.e., the biguanides and thiazolidinediones. However, in both cases these activate AMPK indirectly, and an interesting question concerns whether a drug that directly activated AMPK would retain the therapeutic benefits of the existing drugs while eliminating unwanted side effects. AMPK activators also now have potential as anticancer drugs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Physiology, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, United Kingdom. d.g.hardie@dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: D Grahame
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hardie
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001645:Biguanides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001645:Biguanides; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases