AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an evolutionarily conserved serine-threonine kinase that senses cellular energy status, is activated by stress and neurohumoral stimuli. We investigated the mechanisms by which adrenergic signaling alters AMPK activation in vivo. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is highly enriched in sympathetic innervation, which is critical for regulation of energy homeostasis. We performed unilateral denervation of BAT in wild type (WT) mice to abolish neural input. Six days post-denervation, UCP-1 protein levels and AMPK ␣2 protein and activity were reduced by 45%. In  1,2,3 -adrenergic receptor knock-out mice, unilateral denervation led to a 25-45% decrease in AMPK activity, protein expression, and Thr 172 phosphorylation. In contrast, acute ␣-or -adrenergic blockade in WT mice resulted in increased AMPK ␣ Thr 172 phosphorylation and AMPK ␣1 and ␣2 activity in BAT. But short term blockade of ␣-adrenergic signaling in  1,2,3 -adrenergic receptor knock-out mice resulted in decreased AMPK activity in BAT, which strongly correlated with enhanced phosphorylation of AMPK on Ser 485/491 , a site associated with inhibition of AMPK activity. Both PKA and AKT inhibitors attenuated AMPK Ser 485/491 phosphorylation resulting from ␣-adrenergic blockade and prevented decreases in AMPK activity. In vitro mechanistic studies in BAT explants showed that the effects of ␣-adrenergic blockade appeared to be secondary to inhibition of oxygen consumption. In conclusion, adrenergic pathways regulate AMPK activity in vivo acutely via alterations in Thr 172 phosphorylation and chronically through changes in the ␣ catalytic subunit protein levels. Furthermore, AMPK ␣ Ser 485/491 phosphorylation may be a novel mechanism to inhibit AMPK activity in vivo and alter its biological effects.
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK),4 an evolutionarily conserved serine threonine kinase, is a fuel-sensing enzyme complex activated by cellular stresses that increase AMP or deplete ATP including hypoxia, ischemia, glucose deprivation, uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation, exercise, and muscle contraction (1, 2). Once activated, AMPK phosphorylates multiple downstream substrates that function to preserve the AMP: ATP ratio through inhibition of ATP-catabolizing pathways and promotion of ATP-generating pathways. Mechanisms involved in AMPK activation include 1) binding of AMP to an allosteric site on the ␥ subunit, which renders the holoenzyme resistant to inactivating serine phosphatases and may also have direct allosteric effects on kinase activity (1, 2) and 2) phosphorylation by upstream AMPK kinases of the ␣ (catalytic) subunits on Thr 172 , which is essential for kinase activity. Recent studies employing INS-1 cells (3), hepatitis C virus harboring replicon cells (4), and isolated heart preparations (5) have demonstrated another potential regulatory mechanism; that is, AMPK may also undergo inhibitory phosphorylation on serine 485 and 491 residues of the ␣1 and ␣2 catalytic subunits, respectively. Some data suggest that upstr...