Cell Signaling Technology

Product Pathways - Glucose Metabolism

Phospho-AMPKα (Thr172) Antibody #2531

Applications Reactivity Sensitivity MW (kDa) Source
W H M R Mk (C) (B) (Pg) Endogenous 62 Rabbit

Applications Key:  W=Western Blotting
Reactivity Key:  H=Human  M=Mouse  R=Rat  Mk=Monkey  C=Chicken  B=Bovine  Pg=Pig
Species cross-reactivity is determined by western blot. Species enclosed in parentheses are predicted to react based on 100% sequence homology.

Protocols

Specificity / Sensitivity

Phospho-AMPKalpha (Thr172) Antibody detects endogenous AMPKα only when phosphorylated at threonine 172. The antibody detects both α1 and α2 isoforms of the catalytic subunit, but it does not detect the regulatory beta or gamma subunits.

Source / Purification

Polyclonal antibodies are produced by immunizing animals with a synthetic phosphopeptide corresponding to residues surrounding Thr172 of human AMPKα. Antibodies are purified by protein A and peptide affinity chromatography.

Western Blotting

Western Blotting

Western blot analysis of untreated and AICAR-treated C2C12 cell extracts using Phospho-AMPKα (Thr172) Antibody.

Background

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is highly conserved from yeast to plants and animals and plays a key role in the regulation of energy homeostasis (1). AMPK is a heterotrimeric complex composed of a catalytic α subunit and regulatory β and γ subunits, each of which is encoded by two or three distinct genes (α1, 2; β1, 2; γ1, 2, 3) (2). The kinase is activated by an elevated AMP/ATP ratio due to cellular and environmental stress, such as heat shock, hypoxia, and ischemia (1). The tumor suppressor LKB1, in association with accessory proteins STRAD and MO25, phosphorylates AMPKα at Thr172 in the activation loop, and this phosphorylation is required for AMPK activation (3-5). AMPKα is also phosphorylated at Thr258 and Ser485 (for α1; Ser491 for α2). The upstream kinase and the biological significance of these phosphorylation events have yet to be elucidated (6). The β1 subunit is post-translationally modified by myristoylation and multi-site phosphorylation including Ser24/25, Ser96, Ser101, Ser108, and Ser182 (6,7). Phosphorylation at Ser108 of the β1 subunit seems to be required for the activation of AMPK enzyme, while phosphorylation at Ser24/25 and Ser182 affects AMPK localization (7). Several mutations in AMPKγ subunits have been identified, most of which are located in the putative AMP/ATP binding sites (CBS or Bateman domains). Mutations at these sites lead to reduction of AMPK activity and cause glycogen accumulation in heart or skeletal muscle (1,2). Accumulating evidence indicates that AMPK not only regulates the metabolism of fatty acids and glycogen, but also modulates protein synthesis and cell growth through EF2 and TSC2/mTOR pathways, as well as blood flow via eNOS/nNOS (1).

  1. Hardie, D.G. (2004) J Cell Sci 117, 5479-87.
  2. Carling, D. (2004) Trends Biochem Sci 29, 18-24.
  3. Hawley, S.A. et al. (1996) J Biol Chem 271, 27879-87.
  4. Lizcano, J.M. et al. (2004) EMBO J 23, 833-43.
  5. Shaw, R.J. et al. (2004) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101, 3329-35.
  6. Woods, A. et al. (2003) J Biol Chem 278, 28434-42.
  7. Warden, S.M. et al. (2001) Biochem J 354, 275-83.

Application References

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This product is intended for research purposes only. The product is not intended to be used for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes in humans or animals.

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