AMARA Peptide, AMPK Substrate

AMARAASAAALARRR is a minimal serine-containing peptide substrate commonly used to measure AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and related kinase activities. The central serine acts as the phosphate acceptor. Because AMARA peptide is short, soluble and chemically defined, it has become a convenient reagent for biochemical AMPK assays and comparative studies of AMPK-related kinases.

• AMPK activity assays
• AMPK-related kinase studies
• serine/threonine phosphorylation assays
• kinase inhibitor and enzyme-characterization research

AMARA is a useful broad AMPK-family substrate rather than a unique biological target sequence. Kinase selectivity should therefore be established with enzyme-specific controls when complex samples are tested.

1. AMP-activated protein kinase is activated by low glucose in cell lines derived from pancreatic beta cells, and may regulate insulin release
2. Activity of LKB1 and AMPK-related kinases in skeletal muscle: effects of contraction, phenformin, and AICAR