ULK1

Gene/Protein · 5 studies in the Atlas

Initiator of autophagy; target of mTORC1 inhibition and AMPK activation.

Evidence at a glance

Study	Year	Tier	Finding
GIL2026	2026	B	Low-dose rapamycin in ME/CFS patients reduced fatigue symptoms, modulated purine biosynthesis via IMP dehydrogenase inhibition, reduced microglial inflammatory responses, and improved mitochondrial en
SONH2026	2026	C	Urolithin A ameliorates HFpEF cardiac remodeling in mice by activating AMPK and inhibiting mTOR to restore mitophagic flux, while simultaneously remodeling the gut microbiome-ceramide axis to reduce l
KIM2011	2011	D	Revealed the tug-of-war over ULK1: the energy sensor AMPK phosphorylates ULK1 at activating sites to turn autophagy ON when energy is low, while mTORC1 phosphorylates a different site (Ser757) to keep
LOF2011	2011	D	ULK1 phosphorylates and inhibits AMPK in return, showing autophagy signaling is a bidirectional feedback loop, not a one-way switch.
HOS2009	2009	D	Showed the DIRECT brake mTORC1 uses on autophagy: when nutrients are plentiful, mTORC1 physically joins the ULK1-Atg13-FIP200 complex (the autophagy-starter kinase) and phosphorylates ULK1 to keep it