DEMYSTIFYING CELL HEALTH

MTOR AND AMPK EXPLAINED

MTOR: THE GROWTH GUY

Ever wondered how our cells manage their energy and growth? Meet mTOR and AMPK, the dynamic duo of cellular metabolism! Think of them as the cell’s traffic controllers, directing whether to go full throttle on growth or conserve energy wisely.

mTOR stands for mammalian target of rapamycin, but let’s stick with mTOR. It’s like the accelerator pedal in your car, pushing cells to grow and divide when conditions are favourable. When we’re well-fed and have plenty of nutrients around, mTOR gets activated and tells cells, “Let’s grow big and strong!” It’s all about building proteins, making new stuff, and growing cells. [1]

Image [2].

AMPK: The Energy Saver and Fat Burner

On the flip side, we have AMPK, or adenosine monophosphateactivated protein kinase, but let’s keep it simple and call it AMPK. This one’s like the cell’s energy meter. When energy levels are low or we’re in a tight spot, AMPK steps in and says, “Hold on, let’s conserve energy.” It’s like switching off unnecessary lights to save power. AMPK helps cells adapt to stress, like when we’re exercising or fasting.

Image [3].

Balancing Act: How They Work Together

What’s cool is that mTOR and AMPK are always communicating, like a good team. When mTOR is revving up growth, AMPK might say, “Whoa, slow down! Let’s check if we have enough energy for this.” And when AMPK kicks in to save energy, mTOR might chime in, “Sure, let’s hold off on growth until we have more resources.” They balance each other out, making sure cells grow when they should and save energy when needed.

Why It Matters for Your Health

Keeping mTOR and AMPK in check is crucial for staying healthy. When mTOR goes into overdrive, it can lead to problems like obesity, diabetes, or even cancer, because cells grow uncontrollably. On the other hand, if AMPK isn’t doing its job, we might run into issues like insulin resistance or heart problems because cells aren’t managing energy properly.

Takeaway: Keep the Balance

So, what’s the takeaway? It’s all about balance. We want mTOR to help us grow and repair, but not too much that it overwhelms our cells. And we need AMPK to step in and save energy and burn fat, when necessary, but not so much that it slows down essential processes.

BOOSTING MTOR & AMPK

Boosters of mTOR

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CLINICAL REFERENCES

[1]. Bodine SC. The role of mTORC1 in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass. Fac Rev. 2022 Nov 11;11:32. doi: 10.12703/r/11-32. PMID: 36532707; PMCID: PMC9720898.

[2]. Nader, G. Muscle growth learns new tricks from an old dog. Nat Med 13, 1016–1018 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0907-1016

[3]. Wang Q, Sun J, Liu M, Zhou Y, Zhang L, Li Y. The New Role of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in Regulating Fat Metabolism and Energy Expenditure in Adipose Tissue. Biomolecules. 2021 Nov 24;11(12):1757. doi: 10.3390/biom11121757. PMID: 34944402; PMCID: PMC8698496.