title: Activators of AMPK: not just for type II diabetes.
abstract: Recent discoveries of AMPK activators point to the large number of therapeutic candidates that can be transformed to successful designs of novel drugs. AMPK is a universal energy sensor and influences almost all physiological processes in the cells. Thus, regulation of the cellular energy metabolism can be achieved in selective tissues via the artificial activation of AMPK by small molecules. Recently, special attention has been given to direct activators of AMPK that are regulated by several nonspecific upstream factors. The direct activation of AMPK, by definition, should lead to more specific biological activities and as a result minimize possible side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zaks
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Getter
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gruzman
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020536:Enzyme Activators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D020536:Enzyme Activators; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases