Ulk1-mediated phosphorylation of AMPK constitutes a negative regulatory feedback loop.

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Loffler AS, Alers S, Dieterle AM, Keppeler H, Franz-Wachtel M, Kundu M, Campbell DG, Wesselborg S, Alessi DR, Stork B

Ulk1-mediated phosphorylation of AMPK constitutes a negative regulatory feedback loop.

Autophagy. 2011 Jul;7(7):696-706. Epub 2011 Jul 1.

PubMed ID
21460634 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Unc-51-like kinase 1 (Ulk1) plays a central role in autophagy induction. It forms a stable complex with Atg13 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) family interacting protein of 200 kDa (FIP 200). This complex is negatively regulated by the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in a nutrient-dependent way. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is activated by LKB1/Strad/Mo25 upon high AMP levels, stimulates autophagy by inhibiting mTORC1. Recently, it has been described that AMPK and Ulk1 interact and that the latter is phosphorylated by AMPK. This phosphorylation leads to the direct activation of Ulk1 by AMPK bypassing mTOR-inhibition. Here we report that Ulk1/2 in turn phosphorylates all three subunits of AMPK and thereby negatively regulates its activity. Thus, we propose that Ulk1 is not only involved in the induction of autophagy, but also in terminating signaling events that trigger autophagy. In our model, phosphorylation of AMPK by Ulk1 represents a negative feedback circuit.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Polypeptides
NameUniProt ID
5'-AMP-activated protein kinase subunit beta-1Q9Y478Details
5'-AMP-activated protein kinase catalytic subunit alpha-1Q13131Details
5'-AMP-activated protein kinase subunit beta-2O43741Details
5'-AMP-activated protein kinase catalytic subunit alpha-2P54646Details
5'-AMP-activated protein kinase subunit gamma-1P54619Details
5'-AMP-activated protein kinase subunit gamma-2Q9UGJ0Details
5'-AMP-activated protein kinase subunit gamma-3Q9UGI9Details
Serine/threonine-protein kinase ULK1O75385Details
Serine/threonine-protein kinase ULK2Q8IYT8Details