Neither LKB1 nor AMPK are the direct targets of metformin
DG Hardie - Gastroenterology, 2006 - gastrojournal.org
Dear Sir: I would like to point out one or two misleading statements in the otherwise
excellent editorial by Jan Hoek in Gastroenterology 2006; 130: 2234–2237. On page 2235 it
states,“Very recently, Shaw et al demonstrated that metformin does not act directly on AMPK,
but instead its effect involves one of its upstream kinases, LKB1.” In fact, the biguanides
metformin and phenformin do not act directly on either LKB1 or AMPK. Their probable target
is complex I of the respiratory chain, which has been shown to be inhibited by these drugs …
excellent editorial by Jan Hoek in Gastroenterology 2006; 130: 2234–2237. On page 2235 it
states,“Very recently, Shaw et al demonstrated that metformin does not act directly on AMPK,
but instead its effect involves one of its upstream kinases, LKB1.” In fact, the biguanides
metformin and phenformin do not act directly on either LKB1 or AMPK. Their probable target
is complex I of the respiratory chain, which has been shown to be inhibited by these drugs …