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AMPK as a direct sensor of long-chain fatty acyl–CoA esters

AMPK is a crucial sensor of the cellular energetic state and is also activated during glucose starvation. A new study reports that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is activated by interaction with long-chain fatty acyl–CoA esters, which appear to be the long-sought endogenous AMPK ligands that bind the allosteric drug and metabolite (ADaM) site.

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Fig. 1: Activation of AMPK by LCFA-CoA esters and other stimuli.

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Correspondence to D. Grahame Hardie.

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Hardie, D.G. AMPK as a direct sensor of long-chain fatty acyl–CoA esters. Nat Metab 2, 799–800 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-020-0249-y

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