AMPK at the crossroads of circadian clocks and metabolism

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) may influence circadian clock components by driving the phosphorylation and destabilization of CRY and PER proteins.

• Circadian clocks help coordinate behavior and physiological processes with daily environmental cycles.
• The mammalian circadian clock operates through a feedback loop involving the transcription factors CLOCK and BMAL1.
• Posttranslational modifications of core clock components are essential for regulating clock timing and speed.
• AMPK serves as a metabolic sensor that transmits energy-dependent signals to the circadian clock.
• AMPK's activity and functions are influenced by the time of day, affecting its subunit composition and phosphorylation targets.

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