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The LKB1/AMPK polarity pathway
Author(s) -
Mirouse Vincent,
Billaud Marc
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.12.025
Subject(s) - ampk , polarity (international relations) , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , biology , protein kinase a , phosphorylation , cell
The LKB1 tumor suppressor kinase is an activator of the AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), a metabolic gauge that responds to variations of cellular energetic levels by favoring catabolic versus anabolic processes. Recent studies have provided substantial evidence that LKB1 and AMPK control cell polarity from invertebrates to mammals. This review examines how the LKB1–AMPK pathway, in conjunction with other positional signals, converts energy‐sensing information into the activation of Myosin II to maintain epithelial‐cell architecture but also to complete cell division. This molecular link between polarity and metabolism may constitute an ancient stress‐response protective mechanism that was co‐opted for tumor suppression during evolution.