Empirical Cycling Podcast Watts Doc #54: Glycogen's Effects On AMPK
Jul 7, 2025
Delve into the intriguing world of AMPK as the cellular energy guardian in exercise. Discover how low glycogen stores activate AMPK and influence endurance. Learn about the differences between observational studies and controlled experiments in research. Unpack the complexities of glycogen's impact on performance and the importance of post-exercise nutrition. The discussion emphasizes skepticism towards trends in fitness while encouraging personal experimentation in training methods for endurance athletes.
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AMPK as Cellular Energy Sensor
- AMPK acts as a key cellular energy sensor responding to ATP/ADP ratio changes during exercise.
- It influences pathways including glycogen breakdown, fatty acid mobilization, and mitochondrial biogenesis.
AMPK Senses Glycogen Levels
- AMPK contains a glycogen binding domain in its beta subunit allowing it to sense glycogen levels.
- This binding regulates AMPK activity, linking glycogen availability to cellular energy signaling.
Glycogen Inhibits AMPK Activity
- Glycogen inhibits AMPK activity proportionally; higher glycogen levels reduce AMPK activation.
- This inhibition persists even in the presence of AMP, AMPK's main activator.