Oliver's mTOR Atlas Evidence Platform
Reading level
Mode

Role of AMP-activated protein kinase in mechanism of metformin action

Zhou G et al. · 2001 · J Clin Invest · Atlas ID ZHO2001

What this study shows

Metformin activates AMPK, suppressing hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis.

Abstract

ShowHide

Metformin is a widely used drug for treatment of type 2 diabetes with no defined cellular mechanism of action. Its glucose-lowering effect results from decreased hepatic glucose production and increased glucose utilization. Metformin's beneficial effects on circulating lipids have been linked to reduced fatty liver. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a major cellular regulator of lipid and glucose metabolism.

Read the full abstract on PubMed →

At a glance

Evidence type M Molecular — cells, biochemistry, structure Marked M because it is molecular or in-vitro work (model: Rat; hepatocytes; skeletal muscle) 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 type5 - Mechanistic / In Vitro
Model systemRat; hepatocytes; skeletal muscle
JournalJ Clin Invest
Year2001
Peer reviewedYes
Record last updated2026-08-22
SourceDOI 10.1172/JCI13505 · PMID 11602624 · Free full text (PMC209533)

Extracted findings

InterventionMetformin
TargetAMPK (→ ACC; indirect mTORC1)
ModelRat; hepatocytes; skeletal muscle
EffectMetformin activates AMPK, explaining its glucose- and lipid-lowering effects

In the Atlas

Related topics

MetforminEnergy & cellular stressAMPK

Open questions that cite this study

More studies on this topic

Cite this paper

ShowHide 
Zhou, G., et al. (2001). Role of AMP-activated protein kinase in mechanism of metformin action. J Clin Invest. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI13505

@article{ZHO2001,
  author       = {Zhou, G. and others},
  title        = {{Role of AMP-activated protein kinase in mechanism of metformin action}},
  journal      = {J Clin Invest},
  year         = {2001},
  doi          = {10.1172/JCI13505},
  note         = {PMID: 11602624},
}

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 ZHO2001) [Data set]. https://mtor-atlas.org/study/ZHO2001/ · Dataset DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22059963

@misc{atlas_ZHO2001,
  author       = {Barton, Oliver},
  title        = {{Oliver's mTOR Atlas}, record ZHO2001},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://mtor-atlas.org/study/ZHO2001/},
  doi          = {10.5281/zenodo.22059963}
}