Longevity & AgingHow Metabolic Kinases Control Organelle Teamwork in Aging and Disease
As cells age, their internal compartments — mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, and others — must constantly coordinate to maintain health. This review examines how metabolic kinases, particularly AMPK, mTOR, AKT, PDKs, and PERK, act as master switches governing that coordination. These enzymes regulate energy metabolism, calcium signaling, fat handling, autophagy, and protein quality control. When kinase signaling breaks down with age, the communication between organelles falters, contributing to neurodegeneration, heart disease, cellular senescence, and chronic inflammation. The review carefully distinguishes between direct physical contact-site regulation and broader indirect effects, offering a nuanced map of how kinase dysregulation underlies cellular decline — and highlighting these pathways as promising targets for future longevity interventions.
