The ARK side of the cell: Kinases, metabolism, and therapeutic potential in malignancies

The human AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related kinases (ARKs) are a conserved family of serine/threonine kinases primarily activated by liver kinase B1 (LKB1). ARKs play crucial roles in various cellular processes, particularly in energy metabolism and stress signaling pathways. While AMPK is well-known as a key regulator of energy homeostasis, its paralogs have emerged as significant modulators of metabolic adaptation, signal transduction, and tumorigenesis, placing them at the center of cancer cell physiology. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the ARKs family, detailing their structural features, regulatory mechanisms, and activation pathways. We categorized ARKs by shared molecular mechanisms and tumorigenic roles, highlighting their complex involvement in cancer. Understanding the functions of ARKs in cancer and other diseases unveils an important and often overlooked layer of metabolic and stress regulation. As research continues to clarify their roles, ARKs are becoming recognized as promising yet largely underexplored contributors to tumor biology. This knowledge provides valuable insights into cellular adaptation and presents new opportunities for targeted therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment.