What is the significance of AMPK signaling pathway?

AMPK signaling pathway has crucial roles in cell polarity, autophagy, reprogramming metabolism and regulating cell growth. AMPK signaling pathway is a highly conserved sensor of intracellular adenosine nucleotide levels that becomes activated when even small decreases in ATP cause relative increase in ADP or AMP. In response to this, AMPK promotes catabolic pathways to form more ATP and to inhibit anabolic pathways. Thus, it is a crucial cellular energy sensor that replenishes ATP during its depletion in the cell. This pathway is the master regulator of cellular energy homeostasis.