Elucidation of the regulating mechanism of glycolipid synthesis by intracellular energy sensor AMPK

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The amount of cellular glucosylceramide (GlcCer) needs to be regulated in an appropriate level because the abnormal accumulation of GlcCer causes several diseases such as Gaucher's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, insights into how cells regulate GlcCer level are yet to be clarified. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is a crucial cellular energy sensor, regulates glucose and lipid metabolism to maintain ATP level. In this study, we investigated whether AMPK affect GlcCer metabolism, and found that GlcCer synthesis was negatively regulated by AMPK-dependent mechanism. Our findings suggest that reduction of GlcCer by AMPK activation may become a new treatment option for diseases caused by the accumulation of GlcCer.