Quote:
Originally Posted by rickck48
AMP activated protein kinase. My question in lamen terms is what does the AMP(K) stnad for? thanks.
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AMPK stands for adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase
Basically it is the cells fuel guage. Our main source of fuel is ATP. When a phosphate group is broken off energy is released and ADP (two phosphates, hence di) is formed.
Now with decreasing energy, ADP is also broken down to AMP ( 1 phosphate, hence mono). Now clearly increasing AMP levels indicate a lower energetic state of the cell, and so AMPK is activated with increasing AMP levels. AMPK then turns off energy consuming pathways like protein synthesis to conserve energy in the cell!