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Nucleocytoplasmic transport: the influenza virus NS1 protein regulates the transport of spliced NS2 mRNA and its precursor NS1 mRNA.

Influenza virus unspliced NS1 mRNA, like retroviral pre-mRNAs, is efficiently exported from the nucleus and translated in the cytoplasm of infected cells. With human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the transport of viral pre-mRNAs is facilitated by the viral Rev protein. We tested the possibility that the influenza virus NS1 protein, a nuclear protein that is encoded by unspliced NS1 mRNA, has the same function as the HIV Rev protein. Surprisingly, using transient transfection assays, we found that rather than facilitating the nucleocytoplasmic transport of unspliced NS1 mRNA, the NS1 protein inhibited the transport of NS2 mRNA, the spliced mRNA generated from NS1 mRNA. The efficient transport of NS2 mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm occurred only when the synthesis of the NS1 protein was abrogated by amber mutations. The NS1 protein down-regulated the export of NS2 mRNA whether or not it was generated by splicing, indicating that the NS1 protein acted directly on transport. Actinomycin D chase experiments verified that the NS1 protein acted on the transport and not on the differential stability of NS2 mRNA in the nucleus as compared to the cytoplasm. In addition, the NS1 protein inhibited the transport of NS1 mRNA itself, which contains all of the sequences in NS2 mRNA, particularly when NS1 mRNA was released from the splicing machinery by mutating its 3'-splice site. Our results indicate that the NS1 protein-mediated inhibition of transport requires sequences in NS2 mRNA. The transport of the viral PB1 protein, nucleocapsid protein, hemagglutinin, membrane protein, and M2 mRNAs was not affected by the NS1 protein. When the NS2 mRNA sequence was covalently attached to the PB1 mRNA, the transport of the chimeric mRNA was inhibited by the NS1 protein. Our results identify a novel function of the influenza virus NS1 protein and demonstrate that post-transcriptional control of gene expression can also occur at the level of the nucleocytoplasmic transport of a mature, spliced mRNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Amphetamines take two to tango: an oligomer-based counter-transport model of neurotransmitter transport explores the amphetamine action.

Amphetamine congeners [e.g., 3,4-methylenedioxymetamphetamine (MDMA), or "ecstasy"] are substrates for monoamine transporters (i.e., the transporters for serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine); however, their in vivo-action relies on their ability to promote monoamine efflux. The mechanistic basis for this counter transport remains enigmatic. We tested the hypothesis that outward transport is contingent on the oligomeric nature of neurotransmitter transporters by creating a concatemer of the serotonin transporter and the amphetamine-resistant GABA transporter. In cells expressing the concatemer, amphetamine analogs promoted GABA efflux and blunted GABA influx. In contrast, the natural substrates serotonin and GABA only cause mutual inhibition of influx via the other transporter moiety in the concatemer. GABA efflux through the concatemer that was promoted by amphetamine analogs was blocked by the protein kinase C inhibitors GF109203X (bisindoylmaleimide I) and Go6983 (2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-5-methoxyindol-3-yl]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)maleimide). Thus, based on our observations, we propose that, in the presence of amphetamine analogs, monoamine transporters operate as counter-transporters; influx and efflux occur through separate but coupled moieties. Influx and efflux are coupled via changes in the ionic gradients, but these do not suffice to account for the action of amphetamines; the activity of a protein kinase C isoform provides a second stimulus that primes the inward facing conformation for outward transport.

Amphetamine↗

Effect of basic and nonbasic amino acid substitutions on transport induced by simian virus 40 T-antigen synthetic peptide nuclear transport signals.

A previous study demonstrated the ability of a synthetic peptide homologous to the simian virus 40 T-antigen nuclear transport signal to induce the nuclear transport of carrier proteins and the dependence of peptide-induced transport on a positive charge at the lysine corresponding to amino acid 128 of T antigen. In this investigation synthetic peptides were utilized to examine the effect on transport of amino acid substitutions within the T-antigen nuclear transport signal. Nuclear transport was evaluated by immunofluorescence after microinjection of protein-peptide conjugates into the cytoplasm of mammalian cells. Substitution of other basic amino acids at position 128 revealed a hierarchy for nuclear transport. The rate of nuclear transport was most rapid when a lysine was at position 128 followed in descending order by arginine, D-lysine, ornithine, and p-aminophenylalanine. Peptide-induced nuclear transport was dependent upon a positively charged amino acid at positions 128 and 129, since substitutions of neutral asparagines at these positions abolished transport. However, partial transport was observed with the peptide having an asparagine at position 128 when a high number of peptides were conjugated to the carrier protein.

Amino Acids↗

Reversal of insulin resistance in diabetic rat adipocytes by insulin therapy. Restoration of pool of glucose transporters and enhancement of glucose-transport activity.

To determine the role of insulin in reversing the insulin resistance associated with depletion of the intracellular pool of glucose transporters, streptozocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with 5 U/day s.c. of insulin for 0, 8, or 14 days. At each time point, adipose cells were isolated, and 3-O-methylglucose transport was measured in the absence and presence of 1000 microU/ml insulin. With the cytochalasin B-binding assay, concentrations of glucose transporters in the plasma and the low-density microsomal membrane fractions were determined. Eight-day insulin therapy enhanced glucose transport rate (mean +/- SE) from 0.2 +/- 0.0 to 1.1 +/- 0.1 fmol X cell-1 X min-1 in the basal state and from 0.8 +/- 0.1 to 5.5 +/- 0.4 fmol X cell-1 X min-1 in the insulin-stimulated state in untreated and treated diabetic rats, respectively; this is a 3-fold increment of glucose transport rate in both states compared with control rats. After 14-day insulin therapy, glucose-transport activity declined toward normal but still remained approximately 1.5- and 4-fold higher than control and diabetic rats, respectively. Despite the persistent enhancement of glucose transport rate, concentration of glucose transporters in the intracellular pool was restored only to its prediabetic state. Likewise, the increased concentration of glucose transporters in the plasma membranes after insulin stimulation was similar to that of control rats. Thus, we suggest that 8-14 days of insulin therapy reversed the insulin resistance in diabetic rat adipocytes by at least two mechanisms: restoration of the intracellular pool of glucose transporters and enhancement of glucose-transport activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Induction of sugar transport in chick embryo fibroblasts by hexose starvation. Evidence for transcriptional regulation of transport.

Incubation of chick embryo fibroblasts in glucose-free medium resulted in a dramatic increase in the rate of 2-deoxy-D-glucose transport. The greatest increase in rate occurred during the first 20 hours of incubation in glucose-free medium and was blocked by actinomycin D, dordycepin, or cycloheximide. The conditions of 2-deoxy-D-glucose concentration and time of incubation with the sugar were determined where transport rather than phosphorylation was rate-limiting in sugar uptake. These studies demonstrated that the transport of 2-deoxy-D-glucose was rate-limiting for only 1 or 2 min when the concentration of sugar in the medium was near the Km for transport, i.e. 2mM. No difference was found in the level of hexokinase activity in homogenates prepared from cells incubated glucose-free medium or standard medium when either 2-deoxy-D-[14C]glucose or D-glucose was used as substrate. A kinetic analysis of the initial rates of 2-deoxy-D-glucose transport by Lineweaver-Burk plots showed that the Vmax for sugar transport increased from 18 to 95 nmol per mg of protein per min when fibroblasts were incubated in glucose-free medium for 40 hours. The Km remained constant at 2 mM. Analysis of the initial rates of 3-omicron-methyl-D-glucose transport by Lineweaver-Burk plots further substantiated that the increase in sugar transport was due to an increase in the Vmax for transport with the Km remaining constant. The activation energy for the transport reaction calculated from an Arrhenius plot was 17.4 Cal per mol for cells cultured in the standard medium and 17.2 Cal per mol for cells cultured in the glucose-free medium. These results are consistent with the interpretation that the Vmax increase observed in hexose-starved cells is due to an increase in the number of transport sites.

Animals↗

Choline transport into rat liver mitochondria. Characterization and kinetics of a specific transporter.

Rat liver mitochondria possess a specific choline transporter in the inner membrane. The transporter shows saturable kinetics at high membrane potential with a Km of 220 microM and a Vmax of 0.4 nmol/mg of protein/min at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. At physiological concentrations of choline, the rate of choline uptake by the transporter shows a linear dependence on membrane potential; uptake is distinct from the nonspecific cation diffusion process. Hemicholinium-3, hemicholinium-15, quinine, and quinidine, all analogues of choline, are high affinity competitive inhibitors of choline transport with Ki values of 17, 55, 15, and 127 microM, respectively. The choline transporter is distinct from other known mitochondrial transporters. Rat heart mitochondria do not appear to possess a choline transporter. Evidence suggests that the transporter is an electrophoretic uniporter. Analogue studies have shown that the hydroxyl and the quaternary ammonium groups of choline are necessary for binding to the transporter. A comparison of molecular models of choline and the high affinity inhibitors has provided evidence for the preferred conformation of choline for binding to the transporter. The presence of a choline transporter in the mitochondrial inner membrane provides a potential site for control of choline oxidation and hence supply of endogenous betaine.

Animals↗

Role of the nucleoside transport function in the transport and salvage of purine nucleobases.

Genetic deficiencies in the nucleoside transport function markedly altered the abilities of cultured mutant S49 T lymphoblasts to transport, incorporate, and salvage exogenous hypoxanthine. The concentrations of exogenous hypoxanthine required to reverse azaserine toxicity and replenish azaserine-depleted nucleoside triphosphate pools in AE1 cells, a nucleoside transport-deficient clone, were about 10-fold higher than those required for wild type cells. In a similar fashion, guanine could reverse mycophenolic acid toxicity in wild type but not in AE1 cells. Surprisingly, a second nucleoside transport-deficient clone, 80-5D2, which had lost 80-90% of its ability to transport nucleosides, required lower hypoxanthine concentrations than the wild type parent to reverse these azaserine-mediated effects. The addition of submicromolar concentrations of either p-nitrobenzylthioinosine or dipyridamole, two potent inhibitors of nucleoside transport, to wild type cells mimicked the phenotype of the AE1 cells with respect to hypoxanthine. AE1 cells or p-nitrobenzylthioinosine-treated wild type cells could only transport hypoxanthine at 10-25% the rate of untreated wild type cells, whereas 80-5D2 cells could transport hypoxanthine more efficiently. Adenine transport was also diminished in AE1 and FURD-80-3-6 cells, but not to sufficiently low levels to interfere with their ability to salvage adenine to overcome azaserine toxicity. These studies on S49 cells altered in their nucleoside transport capacity provide powerful genetic evidence that purine nucleobases share a common transport function with nucleosides in these mammalian T lymphoblasts.

Adenine↗

Hepatocellular transport of bile acids. Evidence for distinct subcellular localizations of electrogenic and ATP-dependent taurocholate transport in rat hepatocytes.

To investigate whether electrogenic and ATP-dependent taurocholate transport activities are both mediated by the same bile acid-transporting polypeptide in rat liver, we further purified isolated canalicular membrane vesicles by free flow electrophoresis. Removal of most of the contaminating endoplasmic reticulum resulted in a complete loss of electrogenic taurocholate transport from an ecto-ATPase-enriched canalicular membrane subfraction. In contrast, ATP-dependent taurocholate transport remained associated with both an ecto-ATPase-enriched and an ecto-ATPase-free canalicular membrane subfraction. Microsomes containing 64% of total endoplasmic reticulum exhibited saturable electrogenic (Km approximately 270 microM), but no ATP-dependent taurocholate uptake. Golgi membrane vesicles were devoid of any taurocholate transport activity. These results indicate that electrogenic taurocholate transport resides entirely in the endoplasmic reticulum, whereas ATP-dependent bile acid transport is an intrinsic function of the canalicular membrane as well as of a so far unidentified intracellular membrane bound compartment. Hence, the two transport activities are most probably mediated by two different bile acid transporting polypeptides. Furthermore, the finding of ATP-dependent taurocholate transport in virtually ecto-ATPase-free vesicles argues against the concept of primary active bile acid transport being exclusively mediated by the canalicular ecto-ATPase.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Identification of the hepatic efflux transporters of organic anions using double-transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney II cells expressing human organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1)/multidrug resistance-associated protein 2, OATP1B1/multidrug resistance 1, and OATP1B1/breast cancer resistance protein.

Until recently, it was generally believed that the transport of various organic anions across the bile canalicular membrane was mainly mediated by multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2/ABCC2). However, a number of new reports have shown that some organic anions are also substrates of multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1/ABCB1) and/or breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2), implying MDR1 and BCRP could also be involved in the biliary excretion of organic anions in humans. In the present study, we constructed new double-transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney II (MDCKII) cells expressing organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1)/MDR1 and OATP1B1/BCRP, and we investigated the transcellular transport of four kinds of organic anions, estradiol-17beta-d-glucuronide (EG), estrone-3-sulfate (ES), pravastatin (PRA), and cerivastatin (CER), to identify which efflux transporters mediate the biliary excretion of compounds using double-transfected cells. We observed the vectorial transport of EG and ES in all the double transfectants. MRP2 showed the highest efflux clearance of EG among these efflux transporters, whereas BCRP-mediated clearance of ES was the highest in these double transfectants. In addition, two kinds of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors, CER and PRA, were also substrates of all these efflux transporters. The rank order of the efflux clearance of PRA mediated by each transporter was the same as that of EG, whereas the contribution of MDR1 to the efflux of CER was relatively greater than for PRA. This experimental system is very useful for identifying which transporters are involved in the biliary excretion of organic anions that cannot easily penetrate the plasma membrane.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Correlation between local glucose transporter densities and local 3-O-methylglucose transport in rat brain.

The present study addresses the question whether local glucose transport kinetics are correlated with local glucose transporter densities in the brain. In 47 brain structures the local rate constants for 3-O-[(14)C]methylglucose (3-O-MG) transport, K(1) and k(2,) were quantified, and local glucose Glut1 and Glut3 transporter densities were determined by immuno-autoradiographic methods. Statistically significant correlations were found between the rate constants for glucose transport and the transporter densities. The correlations were tighter for Glut1 than for Glut3. Inasmuch as 3-O-MG is transported by the same transporter as glucose, these results indicate that the local densities of glucose transporters determine local glucose transport rates in the brain.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Tryptophan 388 in putative transmembrane segment 10 of the rat glucose transporter Glut1 is essential for glucose transport.

The molecular mechanism of substrate recognition in membrane transport is not well understood. Two amino acid residues, Tyr446 and Trp455 in transmembrane segment 10 (TM10), have been shown to be important for galactose recognition by the yeast Gal2 transporter; Tyr446 was found to be essential in that its replacement by any of the other 19 amino acids abolished transport activity (Kasahara, M., Shimoda, E., and Maeda, M. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 16721-16724). The Glut1 glucose transporter of animal cells belongs to the same Glut transporter family as does Gal2 and thus might be expected to show a similar mechanism of substrate recognition. The role of the two amino acids, Phe379 and Trp388, in rat Glut1 corresponding to Tyr446 and Trp455 of Gal2 was therefore studied. Phe379 and Trp388 were individually replaced with each of the other 19 amino acids, and the mutant Glut1 transporters were expressed in yeast. The expression level of most mutants was similar to that of the wild-type Glut1, as revealed by immunoblot analysis. Glucose transport activity was assessed by reconstituting a crude membrane fraction of the yeast cells in liposomes. No significant glucose transport activity was observed with any of Trp388 mutants, whereas the Phe379 mutants showed reduced or no activity. These results indicate that the two aromatic amino acids in TM10 of Glut1 are important for glucose transport. However, unlike Gal2, the residue at the cytoplasmic end of TM10 (Trp388, corresponding to Trp455 of Gal2), rather than that in the middle of TM10 (Phe379, corresponding to Tyr446 of Gal2), is essential for transport activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation of the BGT1 epithelial gamma-aminobutyric acid transporter regulates its association with LIN7 PDZ proteins: a post-translational mechanism regulating transporter surface density.

The Na/Cl-dependent BGT1 transporter has osmoprotective functions by importing the small osmolyte betaine into the cytosol of renal medullary epithelial cells. We have demonstrated previously that the surface localization of the transporter in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells depends on its association with the LIN7 PDZ protein through a PDZ target sequence in the last 5 residues of the transporter (-KETHL). Here we describe a protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated mechanism regulating the association between BGT1 and LIN7. Reduced transport activity paralleled by the intracellular relocalization of the transporter was observed in response to the PKC activation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) treatment. This activation caused clathrin-dependent internalization of the transporter and its targeting to a recycling compartment that contains the truncated transporter lacking the LIN7 binding motif (BGTDelta5) but not the LIN7 partner of BGT1. The decreased association between BGT1 and LIN7 was demonstrated further by coimmunoprecipitation studies and in vitro binding to recombinant LIN7 fusion protein. The TPA treatment induced phosphorylation of surface BGT1 on serine and threonine residues. However, a greater increase in phosphothreonines than phosphoserines was measured in the wild type transporter, whereas the opposite was true in the BGTSer mutant in which a serine replaced the threonine 612 in the LIN7 association motif (-KESHL). No similar increase in relative phosphoserines or phosphothreonines was found in the BGTDelta5 transporter. Moreover, phosphorylation of threonine 612 in a BGT COOH-terminal peptide impaired its association with recombinant LIN7. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the post-translational regulation of BGT1 surface density is a result of transporter phosphorylation and that threonine 612 is an essential residue in this PKC-mediated regulation.

Animals↗

The homodimeric ATP-binding cassette transporter LmrA mediates multidrug transport by an alternating two-site (two-cylinder engine) mechanism.

The bacterial LmrA protein and the mammalian multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein are closely related ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters that confer multidrug resistance on cells by mediating the extrusion of drugs at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. The mechanisms by which transport is mediated, and by which ATP hydrolysis is coupled to drug transport, are not known. Based on equilibrium binding experiments, photoaffinity labeling and drug transport assays, we conclude that homodimeric LmrA mediates drug transport by an alternating two-site transport (two-cylinder engine) mechanism. The transporter possesses two drug-binding sites: a transport-competent site on the inner membrane surface and a drug-release site on the outer membrane surface. The interconversion of these two sites, driven by the hydrolysis of ATP, occurs via a catalytic transition state intermediate in which the drug transport site is occluded. The mechanism proposed for LmrA may also be relevant for P-glycoprotein and other ABC transporters.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Phylogenetic conservation of 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter isoforms. Cloning and pharmacological characterization of a GABA/beta-alanine transporter from Torpedo.

A family of structurally related, Na+/Cl(-)-dependent plasma-membrane transporters catalyze the uptake of several neurotransmitters, osmolytes and other metabolites into cells. Four different members of this transporter family have been cloned from mammalian sources which all transport 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA) but differ in their pharmacological profiles and in their tissue distribution. We report on the cloning, sequencing and functional expression of a transporter for GABA and beta-alanine from the electric lobe of Torpedo. According to similarity of amino acid sequence (77% identity), pharmacological properties, and tissue distribution (nervous-system-specific), it appears to be the counterpart of the beta-alanine-sensitive GABA transporter, GAT-B/GAT-3/GAT4, previously cloned from rat and mouse. The identification of another GABA transporter isoform from Torpedo (after the recent characterization of a Torpedo GAT-1 transporter) indicates that GABA-transporter isoforms are phylogenetically ancient and arose before the divergence of vertebrates. Sequence comparison between isofunctional transporters from evolutionarily distant species aids in the identification of amino acid residues that are critical for functional specificity. The expression of transporters for GABA and beta-alanine raises questions regarding the unidentified physiological role of these amino acids in Torpedo electric lobe.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A human sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 isoform acts as a dominant-negative inhibitor of ascorbic acid transport.

Vitamin C is transported as ascorbic acid (AA) through the sodium-ascorbate cotransporters (SVCT1 and -2) and as dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) through the facilitative glucose transporters. All cells have glucose transporters and take up DHA that is trapped intracellularly by reduction and accumulated as AA. SVCT2 is widely expressed in cells and tissues at the mRNA level; however, only specialized cells directly transport AA. We undertook a molecular analysis of SVCT2 expression and discovered a transcript encoding a short form of human SVCT2 (hSVCT2-short) in which 345 bp is deleted without a frame shift. The deletion involves domains 5 and 6 and part of domain 4. cDNA encoding this isoform was isolated and expressed in 293T cells, where the protein was detected on the plasma membrane. Transport studies, however, revealed that hSVCT2-short gave rise to a nonfunctional transporter protein. hSVCT2-short arises by alternative splicing and encodes a protein that strongly inhibited the function of SVCT2 and, to a lesser extent, SVCT1 in a dominant-negative manner, probably by protein-protein interaction. The expression of hSVCT2-short varies among cells. PCR analysis of cDNA isolated from melanocytes capable of transporting AA revealed a predominance of the full-length isoform, while HL-60 cells, which express SVCT2 at the mRNA level and were incapable of transporting AA, showed a predominance of the short isoform. These findings suggest a mechanism of AA uptake regulation whereby an alternative SVCT2 gene product inhibits transport through the two known AA transporters.

Biological Transport, Active↗

Use of glucose transport mutants to examine the intrinsic properties of glucose transport processes in rat myoblasts.

Glucose transport mutants were used to examine the intrinsic properties of glucose transport processes in rat myoblasts. Studies with mutants devoid of any functional glucose transporter revealed that substantial amount of sugar analogues was internalized via simple diffusion; however, equilibration of these analogues across the plasma membrane was not achieved after 1 min of incubation at 23 degrees C. The rates of internalization were substantially higher with sugar analogues that were phosphorylated by intracellular kinases. Mutants harbouring only one functional GLUT transporter were also used to examine the intrinsic properties of specific GLUT transporters. The preferred substrate for the GLUT 1 transporter was 2-deoxy-D-glucose (dGlc); the transport affinity for this substrate was reduced by energy uncouplers. Studies with mutants possessing only the GLUT 4 transporter revealed that this transporter existed in a high and a low affinity form. The former was responsible for dGlc uptake; whereas the latter was for the uptake of both 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (MeGlc) and dGlc; only the former was affected by energy uncouplers. These studies illustrated the usefulness of mutants in characterizing glucose transport processes.

Animals↗

Human rhabdomyosarcoma cells retain insulin-regulated glucose transport activity through glucose transporter 1.

We evaluated the expression of glucose transporter (glut) isoforms and its function in RD cells, human rhabdomyosarcoma, which retain the potential to differentiate into muscle. Gluts 1, 3, and 4 were expressed in RD cells, as detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry. Supraphysiological concentration (1 microM) of insulin treatment increased 2-deoxy glucose transport by up to 1.68-fold together with concomitant tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta subunit and of insulin receptor substrate 1. Suppression of glut 1 mRNA by 38% by antisense oligonucleotide transfection led to a reduction of basal and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy glucose transport by 38 and 55%, respectively. Suppression of gluts 3 and 4 by antisense oligonucleotide transfection did not affect both basal and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy glucose transport. Thus, glut 1 accounts for the major part of basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport in RD cells. Next, we transfected expression vectors carrying human gluts 1 and 4 cDNAs into RD cells to add further support for the role of glut 1 in glucose transport. Overexpression of glut 1 stimulated basal and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy glucose transport by 1.66- and 1.43-fold, respectively. Glut 4 overexpression did not affect basal and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy glucose transport. Western blot analysis using glut 1 antibody showed that glut 1 was redistributed from intracellular membrane to plasma membrane. These observations support the notion that RD cells, with the potential to differentiate into muscle, retain insulin responsiveness. As human muscle cell lines are not available at this point, RD cells can serve as a useful alternative to human muscle for studies related to insulin signal transduction and glucose transport.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

A novel role of neuregulin in skeletal muscle. Neuregulin stimulates glucose uptake, glucose transporter translocation, and transporter expression in muscle cells.

Neuregulins regulate the expression of acetylcholine receptor genes and induce development of the neuromuscular junction in muscle. In studying whether neuregulins regulate glucose uptake in muscle, we analyzed the effect of a recombinant neuregulin, (r)heregulin-beta1-(177-244) (HRG), on L6E9 muscle cells, which express the neuregulin receptors ErbB2 and ErbB3. L6E9 responded acutely to HRG by a time- and concentration-dependent stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake. HRG-induced stimulation of glucose transport was additive to the effect of insulin. The acute stimulation of the glucose transport induced by HRG was a consequence of the translocation of GLUT4, GLUT1, and GLUT3 glucose carriers to the cell surface. The effect of HRG on glucose transport was dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. HRG also stimulated glucose transport in the incubated soleus muscle and was additive to the effect of insulin. Chronic exposure of L6E9 cells to HRG potentiated myogenic differentiation, and under these conditions, glucose transport was also stimulated. The activation of glucose transport after chronic HRG exposure was due to enhanced cell content of GLUT1 and GLUT3 and to increased abundance of these carriers at the plasma membrane. However, under these conditions, GLUT4 expression was markedly down-regulated. Muscle denervation is associated with GLUT1 induction and GLUT4 repression. In this connection, muscle denervation caused a marked increase in the content of ErbB2 and ErbB3 receptors, which occurred in the absence of alterations in neuregulin mRNA levels. This fact suggests that neuregulins regulate glucose transporter expression in denervated muscle. We conclude that neuregulins regulate glucose uptake in L6E9 muscle cells by mechanisms involving the recruitment of glucose transporters to the cell surface and modulation of their expression. Neuregulins may also participate in the adaptations in glucose transport that take place in the muscle fiber after denervation.

Animals↗