Ulk1-mediated phosphorylation of AMPK constitutes a negative regulatory feedback loop

Löffler AS et al. · 2011 · Autophagy · Atlas ID LOF2011

What this study shows

ULK1 phosphorylates and inhibits AMPK in return, showing autophagy signaling is a bidirectional feedback loop, not a one-way switch.

Abstract

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Unc-51-like kinase 1 (Ulk1) plays a central role in autophagy induction. It forms a stable complex with Atg13 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) family interacting protein of 200 kDa (FIP 200). This complex is negatively regulated by the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in a nutrient-dependent way. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is activated by LKB1/Strad/Mo25 upon high AMP levels, stimulates autophagy by inhibiting mTORC1. Recently, it has been described that AMPK and Ulk1 interact and that the latter is phosphorylated by AMPK.

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At a glance

Evidence type	M Molecular — cells, biochemistry, structure Marked M because it is molecular or in-vitro work (model: Human cells; mouse) rather than a whole-organism health-outcome study. That is often exactly where causal biology gets established -- the code says which system the finding was shown in, and nothing about how good the work is.
Study type	5 - Mechanistic / In Vitro
Model system	Human cells; mouse
Journal	Autophagy
Year	2011
Peer reviewed	Yes
Record last updated	2026-08-22
Source	DOI 10.4161/auto.7.7.15451 · PMID 21460634

Extracted findings

Intervention	Biochemical (ULK1–AMPK)
Target	ULK1 / AMPK / mTORC1
Model	Human cells; mouse
Effect	ULK1 phosphorylates and inhibits AMPK – a negative feedback loop in autophagy signaling

In the Atlas

Cite this paper

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Löffler, A. S., et al. (2011). Ulk1-mediated phosphorylation of AMPK constitutes a negative regulatory feedback loop. Autophagy. https://doi.org/10.4161/auto.7.7.15451

@article{LOF2011,
  author       = {Löffler, A. S. and others},
  title        = {{Ulk1-mediated phosphorylation of AMPK constitutes a negative regulatory feedback loop}},
  journal      = {Autophagy},
  year         = {2011},
  doi          = {10.4161/auto.7.7.15451},
  note         = {PMID: 21460634},
}

Cite this Atlas record

The record is the Atlas's own work — the evidence label, the extracted findings and the links. It is cited as part of the dataset, not as the paper.

Barton, O. (2026). Oliver's mTOR Atlas (record LOF2011) [Data set]. https://mtor-atlas.org/study/LOF2011/ · Dataset DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22059963

@misc{atlas_LOF2011,
  author       = {Barton, Oliver},
  title        = {{Oliver's mTOR Atlas}, record LOF2011},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://mtor-atlas.org/study/LOF2011/},
  doi          = {10.5281/zenodo.22059963}
}