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Restoration of insulin-sensitive glucose transporter (GLUT4) gene expression in muscle cells by the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1.

Muscle tissue is the major site for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in vivo, due primarily to the recruitment of the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter (GLUT4) to the plasma membrane. Surprisingly, virtually all cultured muscle cells express little or no GLUT4. We show here that adenovirus-mediated expression of the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1, which is expressed in muscle in vivo but is also deficient in cultured muscle cells, causes the total restoration of GLUT4 mRNA levels to those observed in vivo. This increased GLUT4 expression correlates with a 3-fold increase in glucose transport, although much of this protein is transported to the plasma membrane even in the absence of insulin. PGC-1 mediates this increased GLUT4 expression, in large part, by binding to and coactivating the muscle-selective transcription factor MEF2C. These data indicate that PGC-1 is a coactivator of MEF2C and can control the level of endogenous GLUT4 gene expression in muscle.

Animals↗

Insulin down-regulates expression of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT4) gene: effects on transcription and mRNA turnover.

Insulin rapidly represses expression of the gene encoding the insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT4) in 3T3-L1 mouse adipocytes. Upon exposure to the hormone the cellular level of GLUT4 mRNA falls (t1/2 approximately 2.5 hr) to 20-30% of its initial level within 10 hr. This is followed by a similar decrease in the level of GLUT4 protein. Down-regulation of GLUT4 mRNA is a result of both rapid repression of transcription of the GLUT4 gene and an increased rate of turnover of the GLUT4 message. As a consequence of prolonged exposure to insulin, 3T3-L1 adipocytes lose their capacity for acute stimulation of hexose uptake by insulin. These findings provide an explanation for the resistance of glucose uptake to insulin in adipose tissue observed in non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes mellitus, particularly that associated with hyperinsulinemia and obesity.

3T3 Cells↗

Contraction stimulates translocation of glucose transporter GLUT4 in skeletal muscle through a mechanism distinct from that of insulin.

The acute effects of contraction and insulin on the glucose transport and GLUT4 glucose transporter translocation were investigated in rat soleus muscles by using a 3-O-methylglucose transport assay and the sensitive exofacial labeling technique with the impermeant photoaffinity reagent 2-N-4-(1-azi-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)benzoyl-1,3-bis(D-mannose-4-y loxy)-2- propylamine (ATB-BMPA), respectively. Addition of wortmannin, which inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, reduced insulin-stimulated glucose transport (8.8 +/- 0.5 mumol per ml per h vs. 1.4 +/- 0.1 mumol per ml per h) and GLUT4 translocation [2.79 +/- 0.20 pmol/g (wet muscle weight) vs. 0.49 +/- 0.05 pmol/g (wet muscle weight)]. In contrast, even at a high concentration (1 microM), wortmannin had no effect on contraction-mediated glucose uptake (4.4 +/- 0.1 mumol per ml per h vs. 4.1 +/- 0.2 mumol per ml per h) and GLUT4 cell surface content [1.75 +/- 0.16 pmol/g (wet muscle weight) vs. 1.52 +/- 0.16 pmol/g (wet muscle weight)]. Contraction-mediated translocation of the GLUT4 transporters to the cell surface was closely correlated with the glucose transport activity and could account fully for the increment in glucose uptake after contraction. The combined effects of contraction and maximal insulin stimulation were greater than either stimulation alone on glucose transport activity (11.5 +/- 0.4 mumol per ml per h vs. 5.6 +/- 0.2 mumol per ml per h and 9.0 +/- 0.2 mumol per ml per h) and on GLUT4 translocation [4.10 +/- 0.20 pmol/g (wet muscle weight) vs. 1.75 +/- 0.25 pmol/g (wet muscle weight) and 3.15 +/- 0.18 pmol/g (wet muscle weight)]. The results provide evidence that contraction stimulates translocation of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle through a mechanism distinct from that of insulin.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

The sentrin-conjugating enzyme mUbc9 interacts with GLUT4 and GLUT1 glucose transporters and regulates transporter levels in skeletal muscle cells.

Glucose transport in insulin-regulated tissues is mediated by the GLUT4 and GLUT1 transporters. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we have cloned the sentrin-conjugating enzyme mUbc9 as a protein that interacts with the GLUT4 COOH-terminal intracellular domain. The mUbc9 enzyme was found to bind directly to GLUT4 and GLUT1 through an 11-aa sequence common to the two transporters and to modify both transporters covalently by conjugation with the mUbc9 substrate, sentrin. Overexpression of mUbc9 in L6 skeletal muscle cells decreased GLUT1 transporter abundance 65%, resulting in decreased basal glucose transport. By contrast, mUbc9 overexpression increased GLUT4 abundance 8-fold, leading to enhanced transport stimulation by insulin. A dominant-negative mUbc9 mutant lacking catalytic activity had effects opposite to those of wild-type mUbc9. The regulation of GLUT4 and GLUT1 was specific, as evidenced by an absence of mUbc9 interaction with or regulation of the GLUT3 transporter isoform in L6 skeletal muscle cells. The mUbc9 sentrin-conjugating enzyme represents a novel regulator of GLUT1 and GLUT4 protein levels with potential importance as a determinant of basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in normal and pathophysiological states.

3T3 Cells↗

Cellubrevin is a resident protein of insulin-sensitive GLUT4 glucose transporter vesicles in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Insulin stimulates glucose transport in muscle and fat cells by inducing translocation of GLUT4 glucose transporters from a storage site to the cell surface. The mechanism of this translocation and the identity of the storage site are unknown, but it has been hypothesized that transporters recycle between an insulin-sensitive pool, endosomes, and the cell surface. Upon cell homogenization and fractionation, the storage site migrates with light microsomes (LDM) separate from the plasma membrane fraction (PM). Cellubrevin is a recently identified endosomal protein that may be involved in the reexocytosis of recycling endosomes. Here we describe that cellubrevin is expressed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and is more abundant in the LDM than in the PM. Cellubrevin was markedly induced during differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipocytes, in parallel with GLUT4, and the development of insulin regulated traffic. In response to insulin, the cellubrevin content decreased in the LDM and increased in the PM, suggesting translocation akin to that of the GLUT4 glucose transporter. Vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP-2)/synaptobrevin-II, a protein associated with regulated exocytosis in secretory cells, also redistributed in response to insulin. Both cellubrevin and VAMP-2 were susceptible to cleavage by tetanus toxin. Immunopurified GLUT4-containing vesicles contained cellubrevin and VAMP-2, and immunopurified cellubrevin-containing vesicles contained GLUT4 protein, but undiscernible amounts of VAMP-2. These observations suggest that cellubrevin and VAMP-2 are constituents of the insulin-regulated pathway of membrane traffic. These results are the first demonstration that cellubrevin is present in a regulated intracellular compartment. We hypothesize that cellubrevin and VAMP-2 may be present in different subsets of GLUT4-containing vesicles.

3T3 Cells↗

Dissection of GLUT4 recycling pathway into exocytosis and endocytosis in rat adipocytes. Evidence that GTP-binding proteins are involved in both processes.

The effects of guanine nucleotides on either exocytosis or endocytosis of GLUT4 were examined in electrically permeabilized rat adipocytes by using Dk-(62-85), a major histocompatibility complex class I-derived peptide. Reversal of glucose transport activity that had been stimulated with insulin was completely blocked by Dk-(62-85). Likewise, endocytosis of the trypsin-cleaved 35-kDa fragment of GLUT4 was almost completely inhibited by the peptide. Insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity was enhanced about 50% by Dk-(62-85), whereas the basal transport activity was stimulated only slightly. Although guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) augmented glucose transport to the same extent as insulin in the absence of the peptide, glucose transport stimulated by GTP gamma S was only 60% of the insulin effect in the presence of the peptide; the effect of insulin was markedly enhanced by Dk-(62-85), whereas GTP gamma S-induced glucose transport was not affected, suggesting that GTP gamma S has an effect similar to that of the peptide. In fact, endocytosis of the 35-kDa fragment of GLUT4 was markedly inhibited by GTP gamma S. Additionally, GLUT4 endocytosis was accelerated by GTP but was inhibited by guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate). These results indicate that GTP gamma S induces translocation of GLUT4 by both stimulating exocytosis and inhibiting endocytosis. With respect to the dependence on GTP hydrolysis, distinct types of GTP-binding proteins are involved in exocytosis and endocytosis of GLUT4.

Adipocytes↗

Transcriptional regulation of the human GLUT4 gene promoter in diabetic transgenic mice.

We previously reported that 2400 base pairs (bp) of 5'-flanking DNA is sufficient for tissue-specific and hormonal/metabolic regulation of the human GLUT4 gene in transgenic mice (Liu, M.-L., Olson, A. L., Moye-Rowley, W. S., Buse, J. B., Bell, G. I., and Pessin, J. E. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 11673-11676). To further define the DNA sequences required for GLUT4 expression, we generated transgenic mice carrying 1975, 1639, 1154, 730, and 412 bp of the GLUT4 5'-flank (hG4) fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. The 1975-hG4-CAT, 1639-hG4-CAT, and 1154-hG4-CAT constructs were expressed in a tissue-specific manner identical to the endogenous murine GLUT4 mRNA. Regulation of these reporter gene constructs in insulin-deficient diabetes also paralleled the endogenous gene. In contrast, 730-hG4-CAT was expressed at high levels only in skeletal muscle and at low levels in all of the other tissues examined. Additionally, expression of 412-hG4-CAT was completely unrestricted. Neither the 730-hG4-CAT nor the 412-hG4-CAT reporter genes displayed any insulin-dependent regulation. These data demonstrate that a skeletal muscle-specific DNA element is located within 730 bp of the GLUT4 5'-flanking DNA but that 1154 bp is necessary to direct the full extent of tissue-specific and insulin-dependent regulation of the human GLUT4 gene in transgenic mice.

Adipose Tissue↗

Skeletal muscle glucose transport and metabolism are enhanced in transgenic mice overexpressing the Glut4 glucose transporter.

Skeletal muscle glucose transport and metabolism were studied in a line of transgenic mice overexpressing the human Glut4 facilitative glucose transporter. Skeletal muscle Glut4 protein levels were increased 2-4-fold in transgenic animals relative to their nontransgenic litter mates. Glut4 overexpression increased total transport activity (measured with 1 mM 2-deoxy-D-glucose) in the isolated extensor digitorum brevis muscle in the presence of insulin; this increase was due to 1) an increase in basal glucose transport (0.8 +/- 0.1 versus 0.5 +/- 0.1 mumol.ml-1.20 min-1 in transgenic and control mice, respectively) and 2) an increase in insulin-stimulated transport (1.5 +/- 0.1 versus 0.8 +/- 0.1 mumol.ml-1.20 min-1 above basal transport in transgenic and control mice, respectively). Glut4 overexpression also increased glucose transport stimulated by muscle contractions. In addition, glycolysis and glucose incorporation into glycogen were enhanced in muscle isolated from transgenic mice compared to controls. These data demonstrate that Glut4 overexpression in skeletal muscle increases insulin- and contraction-stimulated glucose transport activity and glucose metabolism. These findings are consistent with the role of Glut4 as the primary mediator of transport stimulated by insulin or contractions.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Okadaic acid stimulates glucose transport in rat adipocytes by increasing the externalization rate constant of GLUT4 recycling.

GLUT4, the major insulin-responsive glucose transporter isoform in rat adipocytes, rapidly recycles between the cell surface and an intracellular pool with two first order rate constants, one for internalization (kin) and the other for externalization (kex). Insulin decreases kin by 2.8-fold and increases kex by 3.3-fold, thus increasing the steady-state cell surface GLUT4 level by approximately 8-fold (Jhun, B. H., Rampal, A. L., Liu, H., Lachaal, M., and Jung, C. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 17710-17715). To gain an insight into the biochemical mechanisms that modulate these rate constants, we studied the effects upon them of okadaic acid (OKA), a phosphatase inhibitor that exerts a insulin-like effect on glucose transport in adipocytes. OKA stimulated 3-O-methylglucose transport maximally 3.1-fold and increased the cell surface GLUT4 level 3.4-fold. When adipocytes were pulse-labeled with an impermeant, covalently reactive glucose analog, [3H]1,3-bis-(3-deoxy-D-glucopyranose-3-yloxy)-2-propyl 4-benzoylbenzoate, and the time course of labeled GLUT4 recycling was followed, the kex was found to increase 2.8-fold upon maximal stimulation by OKA, whereas the kin remained unchanged within experimental error. These findings demonstrate that OKA mimics the insulin effect on only GLUT4 externalization and suggest that insulin stimulates GLUT4 externalization by increasing the phosphorylation state of a serine/threonine phosphoprotein, probably by inhibiting protein phosphatase 1 or 2A.

Adipocytes↗

Expression and insulin-regulated distribution of caveolin in skeletal muscle. Caveolin does not colocalize with GLUT4 in intracellular membranes.

Caveolin is believed to play an important role in sorting processes, vesicular trafficking, transmembrane signaling, and molecular transport across membranes. In this study we have evaluated the expression and distribution of caveolin in skeletal muscle and its interaction with GLUT4 glucose carriers. Caveolin was expressed to substantial levels in muscle and its expression was regulated in muscle; aging and high fat diet enhanced caveolin expression in skeletal muscle and inversely, myogenesis down-regulated caveolin in L6E9 cells. Under fasting conditions, most of caveolin was found in intracellular membranes and the caveolin present in the cell surface was found in both sarcolemma and T-tubules. Insulin administration led to a redistribution of caveolin from intracellular high density membrane fractions to intracellular lighter density fractions and to the cell surface; this pattern of insulin-induced redistribution was different to what was shown by GLUT4. These results suggests that caveolin is a component of an insulin-regulated machinery of vesicular transport in muscle. Quantitative immunoisolation of GLUT4 vesicles obtained from different intracellular GLUT4 populations revealed the absence of caveolin which substantiates the lack of colocalization of intracellular GLUT4 and caveolin. This indicates that caveolin is not involved in intracellular GLUT4 trafficking in skeletal muscle.

Animals↗

C-terminal mutations that alter the turnover number for 3-O-methylglucose transport by GLUT1 and GLUT4.

Turnover numbers for 3-O-methylglucose transport by the homologous glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT4 were compared to those for truncated and chimeric transporters expressed in Xenopus oocytes to assess potential regulatory properties of the C-terminal domain. The ability of high intracellular sugar concentrations to increase the turnover number for sugar entry ("accelerated exchange") by GLUT1 and not by GLUT4 was maintained in oocytes. Replacing the GLUT1 C terminus with that of GLUT4 stimulated turnover 1.6-fold, but abolished accelerated exchange. Thus, the GLUT1 C terminus permits accelerated exchange by GLUT1, but in doing so must interact with other GLUT1 specific sequences since the GLUT4ctrm1 chimera did not exhibit this kinetic property. Removal of 38 C-terminal amino acids from GLUT4 reduced its turnover number by 40%, whereas removing only 20 residues or replacing its C terminus with that of GLUT1 increased its turnover number 3.5-3.9 fold. Therefore, using mechanisms independent of those which alter transporter targeting to the plasma membrane, C-terminal mutations in either GLUT1 or GLUT4 can activate transport normally restricted by the native C-terminal domain. These results implicate the C termini as targets of physiological factors, which through covalent modification or direct binding might alter C-terminal interactions to regulate intrinsic GLUT1 and GLUT4 transporter activity.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

The insulin-like growth factor II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor utilizes the same membrane compartments as GLUT4 for insulin-dependent trafficking to and from the rat adipocyte cell surface.

The insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II)/mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P) receptor recycles in adipose cells between the cell surface and an intracellular storage pool, and the rate of this trafficking is markedly enhanced by insulin. We show here that the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor is a constituent of the GLUT4-containing compartment ("GLUT4 vesicles") where it represents gp230, a major recycling protein detected earlier by cell surface biotinylation (Kandror, K. V., and Pilch, P. F. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 138-142). The GLUT4 vesicles include 10-15% of the total and all of the acutely insulin-responsive recycling population of the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor. The main part of the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor population is excluded from the pathway of GLUT4 trafficking and either resides permanently in intracellular membranes or has a much slower rate of cycling to the cell surface. Thus, GLUT4 vesicles mediate the insulin-dependent delivery to the cell surface of the IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor as well as the other recyclable proteins with extracellular functional domains (GLUT4 and the aminopeptidase gp160).

Adipose Tissue↗

Osmotic shock stimulates GLUT4 translocation in 3T3L1 adipocytes by a novel tyrosine kinase pathway.

Similar to insulin, osmotic shock of 3T3L1 adipocytes stimulated an increase in glucose transport activity and translocation of GLUT4 protein from intracellularly localized vesicles to the plasma membrane. The docking/fusion of GLUT4 vesicles with the plasma membrane appeared to utilize a similar mechanism, since expression of a dominant interfering mutant of syntaxin-4 prevented both insulin- and osmotic shock-induced GLUT4 translocation. However, although the insulin stimulation of GLUT4 translocation and glucose transport activity was completely inhibited by wortmannin, activation by osmotic shock was wortmannin-insensitive. Furthermore, insulin stimulated the phosphorylation and activation of the Akt kinase, whereas osmotic shock was completely without effect. Surprisingly, treatment of cells with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, or microinjection of phosphotyrosine antibody prevented both the insulin- and osmotic shock-stimulated translocation of GLUT4. In addition, osmotic shock induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of several discrete proteins including Cbl, p130(cas), and the recently identified soluble tyrosine kinase, calcium-dependent tyrosine kinase (CADTK). In contrast, insulin had no effect on CADTK but stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl and the tyrosine dephosphorylation of pp125(FAK) and p130(cas). These data demonstrate that the osmotic shock stimulation of GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes occurs through a novel tyrosine kinase pathway that is independent of both the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and the Akt kinase.

3T3 Cells↗

Role of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase on glucose transport and GLUT4 recruitment to the cell surface in adipose cells.

The previous characterization of an abundant population of non-adrenergic imidazoline-I2 binding sites in adipocytes and the recent demonstration of the interplay between these binding sites and amine oxidases led us to analyze the amine oxidase activity in membranes from isolated rat adipocytes. Adipocyte membranes had substantial levels of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO). SSAO activity and immunoreactive SSAO protein were maximal in plasma membranes, and they were also detectable in intracellular membranes. Vesicle immunoisolation analysis indicated that GLUT4-containing vesicles from rat adipocytes contain substantial levels of SSAO activity and immunoreactive SSAO protein. Immunotitration of intracellular GLUT4 vesicles indicated that GLUT4 and SSAO colocalize in an endosomal compartment in rat adipocytes. SSAO activity was also found in GLUT4 vesicles from 3T3-L1 adipocytes and rat skeletal muscle. Benzylamine, a substrate of SSAO activity, caused a marked stimulation of glucose transport in isolated rat adipocytes in the presence of very low vanadate concentrations that by themselves were ineffective in exerting insulin-like effects. This synergistic effect of benzylamine and vanadate on glucose transport was totally abolished in the presence of semicarbazide, a specific inhibitor of SSAO. Subcellular membrane fractionation revealed that the combination of benzylamine and vanadate caused a recruitment of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane of adipose cells. The stimulatory effects of benzylamine and vanadate on glucose transport were blocked by catalase, suggesting that hydrogen peroxide production coupled to SSAO activity plays a crucial regulatory role. Based on these results we propose that SSAO activity might contribute through hydrogen peroxide production to the in vivo regulation of GLUT4 trafficking in adipose cells.

Adipocytes↗

Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS) stimulation of GLUT4 translocation is tyrosine kinase-dependent.

Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS) treatment of permeabilized adipocytes results in GLUT4 translocation similar to that elicited by insulin treatment. However, although the selective phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin, completely prevented insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation, it was without effect on GTPgammaS-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. In addition, insulin was an effective stimulant, whereas GTPgammaS was a very weak activator of the downstream Akt serine/threonine kinase. Consistent with an Akt-independent mechanism, guanosine 5'-O-2-(thio)diphosphate inhibited insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation without any effect on the Akt kinase. Surprisingly, two functionally distinct tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein and herbimycin A, as well as microinjection of a monoclonal phosphotyrosine specific antibody, inhibited both GTPgammaS- and insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. Phosphotyrosine immunoblotting and specific immunoprecipitation demonstrated that GTPgammaS did not elicit tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor or insulin receptor substrate-1. In contrast to insulin, proteins in the 120-130-kDa and 55-75-kDa range were tyrosine-phosphorylated following GTPgammaS stimulation. Several of these proteins were identified and include protein-tyrosine kinase 2 (also known as CAKbeta, RAFTK, and CADTK), pp125 focal adhesion tyrosine kinase, pp130 Crk-associated substrate, paxillin, and Cbl. These data demonstrate that the GTPgammaS-stimulated GLUT4 translocation utilizes a novel tyrosine kinase pathway that is independent of both the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and the Akt kinase.

3T3 Cells↗

Expression of a dominant interfering dynamin mutant in 3T3L1 adipocytes inhibits GLUT4 endocytosis without affecting insulin signaling.

To examine the role of clathrin-coated vesicle endocytosis in insulin receptor signaling and GLUT4 trafficking, we used recombinant adenovirus to express a dominant interfering mutant of dynamin (K44A/dynamin) in 3T3L1 adipocytes. Functional expression of K44A/dynamin, as measured by inhibition of transferrin receptor internalization, did not affect insulin-stimulated insulin receptor autophosphorylation, Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, or mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Although the tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 was slightly reduced, correlating with a 25% decrease in insulin receptor substrate-1-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity, insulin-stimulated Akt kinase activation was unaffected. In contrast, expression of K44A/dynamin resulted in the cell-surface accumulation of GLUT4 under basal conditions and an inhibition of GLUT4 endocytosis without affecting insulin-stimulated GLUT4 exocytosis. These data demonstrate that disruption of clathrin-mediated endocytosis does not significantly perturb insulin receptor signal transduction pathways. Furthermore, K44A/dynamin expression causes an accumulation of GLUT4 at the cell surface, suggesting that GLUT4 vesicles exist in at least two distinct intracellular compartments, one that undergoes continuous recycling and a second that is responsive to insulin.

3T3 Cells↗

Identification of wortmannin-sensitive targets in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. DissociationoOf insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and glut4 translocation.

The current studies investigated the contribution of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) isoforms to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation. Experiments involving the microinjection of antibodies specific for the p110 catalytic subunit of class I PI3-kinases demonstrated an absolute requirement for this form of the enzyme in GLUT4 translocation. This finding was confirmed by the demonstration that the PI3-kinase antagonist wortmannin inhibits GLUT4 and insulin-responsive aminopeptidase translocation with a dose response identical to that required to inhibit another class I PI3-kinase-dependent event, activation of pp70 S6-kinase. Interestingly, wortmannin inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose uptake at much lower doses, suggesting the existence of a second, higher affinity target of the drug. Subsequent removal of wortmannin from the media shifted this dose-response curve to one resembling that for GLUT4 translocation and pp70 S6-kinase. This is consistent with the lower affinity target being p110, which is irreversibly inhibited by wortmannin. Wortmannin did not reduce glucose uptake in cells stably expressing Myr-Akt, which constitutively induced GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane; this demonstrates that wortmannin does not inhibit the transporters directly. In addition to elucidating a second wortmannin-sensitive pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, these studies suggest that the presence of GLUT4 on the plasma membrane is not sufficient for activation of glucose uptake.

3T3 Cells↗

Role of SNAP23 in insulin-induced translocation of GLUT4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Mediation of complex formation between syntaxin4 and VAMP2.

Both syntaxin4 and VAMP2 are implicated in insulin regulation of glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) trafficking in adipocytes as target (t) soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNARE) and vesicle (v)-SNARE proteins, respectively, which mediate fusion of GLUT4-containing vesicles with the plasma membrane. Synaptosome-associated 23-kDa protein (SNAP23) is a widely expressed isoform of SNAP25, the principal t-SNARE of neuronal cells, and colocalizes with syntaxin4 in the plasma membrane of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In the present study, two SNAP23 mutants, SNAP23-DeltaC8 (amino acids 1 to 202) and SNAP23-DeltaC49 (amino acids 1 to 161), were generated to determine whether SNAP23 is required for insulin-induced translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Wild-type SNAP23 (SNAP23-WT) promoted the interaction between syntaxin4 and VAMP2 both in vitro and in vivo. Although SNAP23-DeltaC49 bound to neither syntaxin4 nor VAMP2, the SNAP23-DeltaC8 mutant bound to syntaxin4 but not to VAMP2. In addition, although SNAP23-DeltaC8 bound to syntaxin4, it did not mediate the interaction between syntaxin4 and VAMP2. Moreover, overexpression of SNAP23-DeltaC8 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer inhibited insulin-induced translocation of GLUT4 but not that of GLUT1. In contrast, overexpression of neither SNAP23-WT nor SNAP23-DeltaC49 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes affected the translocation of GLUT4 or GLUT1. Together, these results demonstrate that SNAP23 contributes to insulin-dependent trafficking of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by mediating the interaction between t-SNARE (syntaxin4) and v-SNARE (VAMP2).

3T3 Cells↗