The mammalian AMP‐activated protein kinase complex mediates glucose regulation of gene expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) controls energy homeostasis in eukaryotic cells. Here we expressed hetero‐trimeric mammalian AMPK complexes in a S accharomyces cerevisiae mutant lacking all five genes encoding yeast AMPK/SNF1 components. Certain mammalian complexes complemented the growth defect of the yeast mutant on non‐fermentable carbon sources. Phosphorylation of the AMPK α1 ‐subunit was glucose‐regulated, albeit not by the Glc7‐Reg1/2 phosphatase, which performs this function on yeast AMPK/SNF1. AMPK could take over SNF1 function in glucose derepression. While indirectly acting anti‐diabetic drugs had no effect on AMPK in yeast, compound 991 stimulated α1 ‐subunit phosphorylation. Our results demonstrate a remarkable functional conservation of AMPK and that glucose regulation of AMPK may not be mediated by regulatory features of a specific phosphatase.