Section of Molecular Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Clin Sci (Lond). 2012 Jun;122(12):555-73. doi: 10.1042/CS20110625.
AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is one of the key players in maintaining intracellular homoeostasis. AMPK is well known as an energy sensor and can be activated by increased intracellular AMP levels. Generally, the activation of AMPK turns on catabolic pathways that generate ATP, while inhibiting cell proliferation and biosynthetic processes that consume ATP. In recent years, intensive investigations on the regulation and the function of AMPK indicates that AMPK not only functions as an intracellular energy sensor and regulator, but is also a general stress sensor that is important in maintaining intracellular homoeostasis during many kinds of stress challenges. In the present paper, we will review recent literature showing that AMPK functions far beyond its proposed energy sensor and regulator function. AMPK regulates ROS (reactive oxygen species)/redox balance, autophagy, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cellular polarity, mitochondrial function and genotoxic response, either directly or indirectly via numerous downstream pathways under physiological and pathological conditions.
AMPK（AMP 激活的蛋白激酶）是维持细胞内稳态的关键因子之一。AMPK 作为能量传感器而广为人知，其活性可被细胞内 AMP 水平的升高所激活。通常情况下，AMPK 的激活会开启生成 ATP 的分解代谢途径，同时抑制消耗 ATP 的细胞增殖和生物合成过程。近年来，对 AMPK 的调控和功能的深入研究表明，AMPK 不仅作为细胞内能量传感器和调节剂发挥作用，而且作为一种普遍的应激传感器，在多种应激挑战中对于维持细胞内稳态也很重要。在本文中，我们将回顾最近的文献，这些文献表明 AMPK 的功能远不止于其最初提出的能量传感器和调节剂功能。在生理和病理条件下，AMPK 通过多种下游途径，直接或间接地调节 ROS（活性氧）/氧化还原平衡、自噬、细胞增殖、细胞凋亡、细胞极性、线粒体功能和遗传毒性反应。
