AMP-activated protein kinase: a critical signaling intermediary for exercise-stimulated glucose transport?

Physical exercise increases the rate of glucose transport into contracting skeletal muscles by a mechanism that involves translocation of the GLUT4 glucose transporter to the cell surface. This brief report will discuss an emerging hypothesis that suggests that the AMP-activated protein kinase is a key signaling intermediary leading to exercise-stimulated GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle.