Abstract: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a metabolic master switch that controls many different aspects of metabolism at both the enzyme level and gene transcription level. There is currently an explosion of new information on AMPK.  AMPK regulates all areas of metabolism. It is activated by increased intracellular AMP levels that accompany metabolic stress as well as by the circulating hormones, leptin and adiponectin, and by the anti-obesity and the anti-diabetic drug metformin. AMPK is a prime therapeutic target for the development of drugs to combat diabetes and obesity. New findings indicate that activation of AMPK can increase exercise capacity raising a wide vista of applications.

Resume: Prof. Bruce Kemp is the Deputy Director of St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research and is an NHMRC Fellow and a Federation Fellow. He holds an Hons. in Agr., Biochem. from the University of Adelaide (1971) and a Ph.D in Biochemistry from Flinders University (1975). His research interests are in how the protein phosphorylation regulates protein function. Bruce has won the following awards:  Medical Research and Technology Development, 1990; The Wellcome Rapid Diagnostics Award, 1991; Lemberg Medal.  Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1996; The Royal Society of Victoria Research Medal for 1996 for Scientific Research, Biological Sciences Fellow Australian Academy of Science, 2000; Max Planck Award 2000; Fellow Royal Society (FRS) UK, 2002 and the Centenary Medal, Australia, 2003.