Substrate specificity and effect on GLUT4 translocation of the Rab GTPase-activating protein Tbc1d1

Insulin stimulation of the trafficking of the glucose transporter GLUT4 to the plasma membrane is controlled in part by the phosphorylation of the Rab GAP (GTPase-activating protein) AS160 (also known as Tbc1d4). Considerable evidence indicates that the phosphorylation of this protein by Akt (protein kinase B) leads to suppression of its GAP activity and results in the elevation of the GTP form of a critical Rab. The present study examines a similar Rab GAP, Tbc1d1, about which very little is known. We found that the Rab specificity of the Tbc1d1 GAP domain is identical with that of AS160. Ectopic expression of Tbc1d1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes blocked insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane, whereas a point mutant with an inactive GAP domain had no effect. Insulin treatment led to the phosphorylation of Tbc1d1 on an Akt site that is conserved between Tbc1d1 and AS160. These results show that Tbc1d1 regulates GLUT4 translocation through its GAP activity, and is a likely Akt substrate. An allele of Tbc1d1 in which Arg(125) is replaced by tryptophan has very recently been implicated in susceptibility to obesity by genetic analysis. We found that this form of Tbc1d1 also inhibited GLUT4 translocation and that this effect also required a functional GAP domain.     

Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of a Rab GTPase-activating protein regulates GLUT4 translocation

Insulin stimulates the rapid translocation of intracellular glucose transporters of the GLUT4 isotype to the plasma membrane in fat and muscle cells. The connections between known insulin signaling pathways and the protein machinery of this membrane-trafficking process have not been fully defined. Recently, we identified a 160-kDa protein in adipocytes, designated AS160, that is phosphorylated by the insulin-activated kinase Akt. This protein contains a GTPase-activating domain (GAP) for Rabs, which are small G proteins required for membrane trafficking. In the present study we have identified six sites of in vivo phosphorylation on AS160. These sites lie in the motif characteristic of Akt phosphorylation, and insulin treatment increased phosphorylation at five of the sites. Expression of AS160 with two or more of these sites mutated to alanine markedly inhibited insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Moreover, this inhibition did not occur when the GAP function in the phosphorylation site mutant was inactivated by a point mutation. These findings strongly indicate that insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of AS160 is required for GLUT4 translocation and that this phosphorylation signals translocation through inactivation of the Rab GAP function.     

Metformin induces Rab4 through AMPK and modulates GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle cells

Metformin is a major oral anti‐diabetic drug and is known as an insulin sensitizer. However, the mechanism by which metformin acts is unclear. In this study, we found that AICAR, an AMPK activator, and metformin increased the expression of Rab4 mRNA and protein levels in skeletal muscle C2C12 cells. The promoter activity of Rab4 was increased by metformin in an AMPK‐dependent manner. Metformin stimulated the phosphorylation of AS160, Akt substrate, and Rab GTPase activating protein (GAP), and also increased the phosphorylation of PKC‐zeta, which is a critical molecule for glucose uptake. Knockdown of AMPK blocked the metformin‐induced phosphorylation of AS160/PKC‐zeta. In addition, a colorimetric absorbance assay showed that insulin‐induced translocation of GLUT4 was suppressed in Rab4 knockdown cells. Moreover, Rab4 interacted with PKC‐zeta but not with GLUT4. The C‐terminal‐deleted Rab4 mutant, Rab4ΔCT, showed diffuse sub‐cellular localization, while wild‐type Rab4 localized exclusively to the perinuclear membrane. Unlike Rab4ΔCT, wild‐type Rab4 co‐localized with PKC‐zeta. Together, these results demonstrate that metformin induces Rab4 expression via AMPK‐AS160‐PKC‐zeta and modulates insulin‐mediated GLUT4 translocation. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 974–981, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Inhibition of calpain results in impaired contraction-stimulated GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle

It was previously found that transgenic mice that overexpress the calpain inhibitor calpastatin (CsTg) have an approximately 3-fold increase in GLUT4 protein in their skeletal muscles. Despite the increase in GLUT4, which appears to be due to inhibition of its proteolysis by calpain, insulin-stimulated glucose transport is not increased in CsTg muscles. PKB (Akt) protein level is reduced approximately 60% in CsTg muscles, suggesting a possible mechanism for the relative insulin resistance. Muscle contractions stimulate glucose transport by a mechanism that is independent of insulin signaling. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the threefold increase in GLUT4 in CsTg would result in a large increase in contraction-stimulated glucose transport. CAMKII and AMPK mediate steps in the contraction-stimulated pathway. The protein levels of AMPK and CAMKII were increased three- to fourfold in CsTg muscles, suggesting that these proteins are also calpain substrates. Despite the large increases in GLUT4, AMPK, and CAMKII, contraction-stimulated GLUT4 translocation and glucose transport were not increased above wild-type values. These findings suggest that inhibition of calpain results in impairment of a step in the GLUT4 translocation process downstream of the insulin- and contraction-signaling pathways. They also provide evidence that CAMKII and AMPK are calpain substrates.     

Inhibition of hepatic phosphatidylcholine synthesis by 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-4-ribofuranoside is independent of AMP-activated protein kinase activation

5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-d-ribofuranoside (AICAr), a commonly used indirect activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), inhibits phosphatidylcholine (PC) biosynthesis in freshly isolated hepatocytes. In all nucleated mammalian cells, PC is synthesized from choline via the Kennedy (CDP-choline) pathway. The purpose of our study was to provide direct evidence that AMPK regulates phospholipid biosynthesis and to elucidate the mechanism(s) by which AMPK inhibits hepatic PC synthesis. Incubations of hepatocytes with AICAr resulted in a dose-dependent activation of AMPK and inhibition of PC biosynthesis. Surprisingly, adenoviral delivery of constitutively active AMPK did not alter PC biosynthesis. In addition, expression of dominant negative mutants of AMPK was unable to block the AICAr-dependent inhibition of PC biosynthesis, indicating that AICAr was acting independently of AMPK activation. Determination of aqueous intermediates of the CDP-choline pathway indicated that choline kinase, the first enzyme in the pathway, was inhibited by AICAr administration. Flux through the CDP-choline pathway was directly correlated to the level of intracellular ATP concentrations. Therefore, it is possible that inhibition of PC biosynthesis is another process by which the cell can reduce ATP consumption in times of energetic stress. However, unlike cholesterol and triacylglycerol biosynthesis, PC production is not regulated by AMPK.     

Energy-sensing and signaling by AMP-activated protein kinase in skeletal muscle.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is emerging as an important energy-sensing/signaling system in skeletal muscle. This kinase is activated allosterically by 5'-AMP and inhibited allosterically by creatine phosphate. Phosphorylation of AMPK by an upstream kinase, AMPK kinase (also activated allosterically by 5'-AMP), results in activation. It is activated in both rat and human muscle in response to muscle contraction, the extent of activation depending on work rate and muscle glycogen concentration. AMPK can also be activated chemically in resting muscle with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-riboside, which enters the muscle and is phosphorylated to form ZMP, a nucleotide that mimics the effect of 5'-AMP. Once activated, AMPK is hypothesized to phosphorylate proteins involved in triggering fatty acid oxidation and glucose uptake. Evidence is also accumulating for a role of AMPK in inducing some of the adaptations to endurance training, including the increase in muscle GLUT-4, hexokinase, uncoupling protein 3, and some of the mitochondrial oxidative enzymes. It thus appears that AMPK has the capability of monitoring intramuscular energy charge and then acutely stimulating fat oxidation and glucose uptake to counteract the increased rates of ATP utilization during muscle contraction. In addition, this system may have the capability of enhancing capacity for ATP production when the muscle is exposed to endurance training.     

Two phases of palmitate-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle: impaired GLUT4 translocation is followed by a reduced GLUT4 intrinsic activity

We examined, in soleus muscle, the effects of prolonged palmitate exposure (0, 6, 12, 18 h) on insulin-stimulated glucose transport, intramuscular lipid accumulation and oxidation, activation of selected insulin-signaling proteins, and the insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4. Insulin-stimulated glucose transport was progressively reduced after 6 h (-33%), 12 h (-66%), and 18 h (-89%) of palmitate exposure. These decrements were closely associated with concurrent reductions in palmitate oxidation at 6 h (-40%), 12 h (-60%), and 18 h (-67%). In contrast, intramuscular ceramide (+24%) and diacylglycerol (+32%) concentrations, insulin-stimulated AS160 (-36%) and PRAS40 (-33%) phosphorylations, and Akt (-40%), PKCtheta (-50%), and GLUT4 translocation (-40%) to the plasma membrane were all maximally altered within the first 6 h of palmitate treatment. No further changes were observed in any of these parameters after 12 and 18 h of palmitate exposure. Thus, the intrinsic activity of GLUT4 was markedly reduced after 12 and 18 h of palmitate treatment. During this reduced GLUT4 intrinsic activity phase at 12 and 18 h, the reduction in glucose transport was twofold greater compared with the early phase (< or =6 h), when only GLUT4 translocation was impaired. Our study indicates that palmitate-induced insulin resistance is provoked by two distinct mechanisms: 1) an early phase (< or =6 h), during which lipid-mediated impairments in insulin signaling and GLUT4 translocation reduce insulin-stimulated glucose transport, followed by 2) a later phase (12 and 18 h), during which the intrinsic activity of GLUT4 is markedly reduced independently of any further alterations in intramuscular lipid accumulation, insulin signaling and GLUT4 translocation.     

AMP-activated protein kinase regulates the expression of monocarboxylate transporter 4 in skeletal muscle

AimsThe aim of this study was to determine the effect of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, on monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) expression in rat skeletal muscle and a prototypic embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cell line (RD cells).Main methodsWe examined the alteration in Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and MCT4 mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR. Alteration in GLUT4 and MCT4 protein levels was examined by Western blotting.Key findingsIn an in vivo study, AICAR increased MCT4 mRNA and protein levels in a fiber-type specific manner. In an in vitro study, AICAR increased MCT4 mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, AICAR-induced MCT4 expression was blocked by Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor.SignificanceIn this study, we found that AMPK activation induced expression of MCT4 in RD cells and rat skeletal muscle in a fiber-type specific manner. These results indicate the possible involvement of an AMPK-mediated pathway associated with MCT4 expression in skeletal muscle.     

Regulatory mode shift of Tbc1d1 is required for acquisition of insulin-responsive GLUT4-trafficking activity

Tbc1d1 is key to skeletal muscle GLUT4 regulation. By using GLUT4 nanometry combined with a cell-based reconstitution model, we uncover a shift in the regulatory mode of Tbc1d1 by showing that Tbc1d1 temporally acquires insulin responsiveness, which triggers GLUT4 trafficking only after an exercise-mimetic stimulus such as aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) pretreatment. The functional acquisition of insulin responsiveness requires Ser-237 phosphorylation and an intact phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) 1 domain. Mutations in PTB1, including R125W (a natural mutant), thus result in complete loss of insulin-responsiveness acquisition, whereas AICAR-responsive GLUT4-liberation activity remains intact. Thus our data provide novel insights into temporal acquisition/memorization of Tbc1d1 insulin responsiveness, relying on the PTB1 domain, possibly a key factor in the beneficial effects of exercise on muscle insulin potency.     

Activators of AMP-activated protein kinase enhance GLUT4 translocation and its glucose transport activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

To determine whether the increase in glucose uptake following AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in adipocytes is mediated by accelerated GLUT4 translocation into plasma membrane, we constructed a chimera between GLUT4 and enhanced green fluorescent protein (GLUT4-eGFP) and transferred its cDNA into the nucleus of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Then, the dynamics of GLUT4-eGFP translocation were visualized in living cells by means of laser scanning confocal microscopy. It was revealed that the stimulation with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), known activators of AMPK, promptly accelerates its translocation within 4 min, as was found in the case of insulin stimulation. The insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation was markedly inhibited after addition of wortmannin (P < 0.01). However, the GLUT4 translocation through AMPK activators AICAR and DNP was not affected by wortmannin. Insulin- and AMPK-activated translocation of GLUT4 was not inhibited by SB-203580, an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Glucose uptake was significantly increased after addition of AMPK activators AICAR and DNP (P < 0.05). AMPK- and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake were similarly suppressed by wortmannin (P < 0.05-0.01). In addition, SB-203580 also significantly prevented the enhancement of glucose uptake induced by AMPK and insulin (P < 0.05). These results suggest that AMPK-activated GLUT4 translocation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes is mediated through the insulin-signaling pathway distal to the site of activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or through a signaling system distinct from that activated by insulin. On the other hand, the increase of glucose uptake dependent on AMPK activators AICAR and DNP would be additionally due to enhancement of the intrinsic activity in translocated GLUT4 protein, possibly through a p38 MAPK-dependent mechanism.     

Characterization of the role of the Rab GTPase-activating protein AS160 in insulin-regulated GLUT4 trafficking

Insulin stimulates the translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 from intracellular vesicles to the plasma membrane. In the present study we have conducted a comprehensive proteomic analysis of affinity-purified GLUT4 vesicles from 3T3-L1 adipocytes to discover potential regulators of GLUT4 trafficking. In addition to previously identified components of GLUT4 storage vesicles including the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase insulin-regulated aminopeptidase and the vesicle soluble N-ethylmaleimide factor attachment protein (v-SNARE) VAMP2, we have identified three new Rab proteins, Rab10, Rab11, and Rab14, on GLUT4 vesicles. We have also found that the putative Rab GTPase-activating protein AS160 (Akt substrate of 160 kDa) is associated with GLUT4 vesicles in the basal state and dissociates in response to insulin. This association is likely to be mediated by the cytosolic tail of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase, which interacted both in vitro and in vivo with AS160. Consistent with an inhibitory role of AS160 in the basal state, reduced expression of AS160 in adipocytes using short hairpin RNA increased plasma membrane levels of GLUT4 in an insulin-independent manner. These findings support an important role for AS160 in the insulin regulated trafficking of GLUT4.     

Lack of O-GlcNAcylation enhances exercise-dependent glucose utilization potentially through AMP-activated protein kinase activation in skeletal muscle

O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification that is characterized by the addition of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) to proteins by O-GlcNAc transferase (Ogt). The degree of O-GlcNAcylation is thought to be associated with glucotoxicity and diabetic complications, because GlcNAc is produced by a branch of the glycolytic pathway. However, its role in skeletal muscle has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we created skeletal muscle-specific Ogt knockout (Ogt-MKO) mice and analyzed their glucose metabolism. During an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, blood glucose was slightly lower in Ogt-MKO mice than in control Ogt-flox mice. High fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance were reversed in Ogt-MKO mice. In addition, 12-month-old Ogt-MKO mice had lower adipose and body mass. A single bout of exercise significantly reduced blood glucose in Ogt-MKO mice, probably because of higher AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) protein expression. Furthermore, intraperitoneal injection of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide, an AMPK activator, resulted in a more marked decrease in blood glucose levels in Ogt-MKO mice than in controls. Finally, Ogt knockdown by siRNA in C2C12 myotubes significantly increased protein expression of AMPKα, glucose uptake and oxidation. In conclusion, loss of O-GlcNAcylation facilitates glucose utilization in skeletal muscle, potentially through AMPK activation. The inhibition of O-GlcNAcylation in skeletal muscle may have an anti-diabetic effect, through an enhancement of glucose utilization during exercise.     

Genetic model for the chronic activation of skeletal muscle AMP-activated protein kinase leads to glycogen accumulation

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important metabolic sensor/effector that coordinates many of the changes in mammalian tissues during variations in energy availability. We have sought to create an in vivo genetic model of chronic AMPK activation, selecting murine skeletal muscle as a representative tissue where AMPK plays important roles. Muscle-selective expression of a mutant noncatalytic gamma1 subunit (R70Qgamma) of AMPK activates AMPK and increases muscle glycogen content. The increase in glycogen content requires the presence of the endogenous AMPK catalytic alpha-subunit, since the offspring of cross-breeding of these mice with mice expressing a dominant negative AMPKalpha subunit have normal glycogen content. In R70Qgamma1-expressing mice, there is a small, but significant, increase in muscle glycogen synthase (GSY) activity associated with an increase in the muscle expression of the liver isoform GSY2. The increase in glycogen content is accompanied, as might be expected, by an increase in exercise capacity. Transgene expression of this mutant AMPKgamma1 subunit may provide a useful model for the chronic activation of AMPK in other tissues to clarify its multiple roles in the regulation of metabolism and other physiological processes.     

Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase increases mitochondrial enzymes in skeletal muscle.

Muscle contraction causes an increase in activity of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). This study was designed to determine whether chronic chemical activation of AMPK will increase mitochondrial enzymes, GLUT-4, and hexokinase in different types of skeletal muscle of resting rats. In acute studies, rats were subcutaneously injected with either 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR; 1 mg/g body wt) in 0.9% NaCl or with 0.9% NaCl alone and were then anesthetized for collection and freezing of tissues. AMPK activity increased in the superficial, white region of the quadriceps and in soleus muscles but not in the deep, red region of the quadriceps muscle. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) activity, a target for AMPK, decreased in all three muscle types in response to AICAR injection but was lowest in the white quadriceps. In rats given daily, 1 mg/g body wt, subcutaneous injections of AICAR for 4 wk, activities of citrate synthase, succinate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase were increased in white quadriceps and soleus but not in red quadriceps. Cytochrome c and delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase levels were increased in white, but not red, quadriceps. Carnitine palmitoyl-transferase and hydroxy-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase were not significantly increased. Hexokinase was markedly increased in all three muscles, and GLUT-4 was increased in red and white quadriceps. These results suggest that chronic AMPK activation may mediate the effects of muscle contraction on some, but not all, biochemical adaptations of muscle to endurance exercise training.     

Postexercise recovery of skeletal muscle malonyl-CoA, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and AMP-activated protein kinase

Previous studies have demonstrated that oxygenconsumption and fat oxidation remain elevated in the postexerciseperiod. The purpose of this study was to determine whether malonyl-CoA,an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation, remains depressed in muscle afterexercise. Rats were sprinted for 5 min (40 m/min, 5% grade) or run for30 min (21 m/min, 15% grade). Red quadriceps malonyl-CoA returned toresting values by 90 min postexercise in the sprinting rats andremained significantly lower at least 90 min postexercise in the 30-minexercise group. AMP-activated protein kinase activity remainedsignificantly elevated (P < 0.05)for 10 min after exercise in both groups. The most rapid rate ofglycogen repletion was in the first 30 min postexercise. Therespiratory exchange ratio decreased from a nonexercise value of 0.87 ± 0.01 to an average 0.82 ± 0.01 during the 90-min period after30 min of exercise. Thus muscle malonyl-CoA remains depressed and fatoxidation is elevated for relatively prolonged periods after a singlebout of exercise. This may allow fat oxidation to contribute more to muscle energy requirements, thus leaving more glucose for replenishment of muscle glycogen.

     

Contraction-associated translocation of protein kinase C in rat skeletal muscle

Electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve of the anaesthetized rat in vivo led to a time-dependent translocation of protein kinase C from the muscle cytosol to the particulate fraction. Maximum activity of protein kinase C in the particulate fraction occurred after 2 min of intermittent short tetanic contractions of the gastrocnemius-plantaris-soleus muscle group and coincided with the loss of activity from the cytosol. Translocation of protein kinase C may imply a role for this kinase in contraction-initiated changes in muscle metabolism.