Direct Pharmacological Activation of
AMPK
Extends Lifespan in Yeast, Worms and Flies
Eliano dos Santos, Marie Blickling, Fiona C. Leiper, John‐Patrick Alao, Claudia Lennicke, Andrea Foley, Jon R. Wilson, Steven J. Gamblin, Bénédicte Chazaud, Giovanna Lollo, Rémi Mounier, Gaëtan Juban, Charalampos Rallis, David Carling, Filipe Cabreiro, Helena M. Cochemé ABSTRACT
AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key evolutionarily conserved sensor of energy homeostasis and plays a central role in metabolic health and disease. AMPK has also been implicated in ageing; however, most in vivo drug studies rely on the use of indirect activators, such as metformin, which have complex modes‐of‐action, therefore making conclusions on the specific role of AMPK more challenging. Here, we demonstrate that direct activation of AMPK with the compound 991 extends lifespan in
Drosophila melanogaster
,