Related Experiment Videos
The ancient drug salicylate directly activates AMP-activated protein kinase
Simon A Hawley1, Morgan D Fullerton, Fiona A Ross
1Division of Cell Signalling and Immunology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
Abstract:
Salicylate, a plant product, has been in medicinal use since ancient times. More recently, it has been replaced by synthetic derivatives such as aspirin and salsalate, both of which are rapidly broken down to salicylate in vivo. At concentrations reached in plasma after administration of salsalate or of aspirin at high doses, salicylate activates adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a central regulator of cell growth and metabolism. Salicylate binds at the same site as the synthetic activator A-769662 to cause allosteric activation and inhibition of dephosphorylation of the activating phosphorylation site, threonine-172. In AMPK knockout mice, effects of salicylate to increase fat utilization and to lower plasma fatty acids in vivo were lost. Our results suggest that AMPK activation could explain some beneficial effects of salsalate and aspirin in humans.
Related Concept Videos
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Two...
MAPK Signaling Cascades
Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers