Constitutively active CaMKKα stimulates skeletal muscle glucose uptake in insulin-resistant mice in vivo

Diabetes. 2014 Jan;63(1):142-51. doi: 10.2337/db13-0452. Epub 2013 Oct 7.

Abstract

In insulin-sensitive skeletal muscle, the expression of constitutively active Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase α (caCaMKKα) stimulates glucose uptake independent of insulin signaling (i.e., Akt and Akt-dependent TBC1D1/TBC1D4 phosphorylation). Our objectives were to determine whether caCaMKKα could stimulate glucose uptake additively with insulin in insulin-sensitive muscle, in the basal state in insulin-resistant muscle, and if so, to determine whether the effects were associated with altered TBC1D1/TBC1D4 phosphorylation. Mice were fed a control or high-fat diet (60% kcal) for 12 weeks to induce insulin resistance. Muscles were transfected with empty vector or caCaMKKα plasmids using in vivo electroporation. After 2 weeks, caCaMKKα protein was robustly expressed. In insulin-sensitive muscle, caCaMKKα increased basal in vivo [(3)H]-2-deoxyglucose uptake approximately twofold, insulin increased glucose uptake approximately twofold, and caCaMKKα plus insulin increased glucose uptake approximately fourfold. caCaMKKα did not increase basal TBC1D1 (Ser(237), Thr(590), Ser(660), pan-Thr/Ser) or TBC1D4 (Ser(588), Thr(642), pan-Thr/Ser) phosphorylation. In insulin-resistant muscle, caCaMKKα increased basal glucose uptake approximately twofold, and attenuated high-fat diet-induced basal TBC1D1 (Thr(590), pan-Thr/Ser) and TBC1D4 (Ser(588), Thr(642), pan-Thr/Ser) phosphorylation. In cell-free assays, CaMKKα increased TBC1D1 (Thr(590), pan-Thr/Ser) and TBC1D4 (Ser(588), pan-Thr/Ser) phosphorylation. Collectively, these results demonstrate that caCaMKKα stimulates glucose uptake additively with insulin, and in insulin-resistant muscle, and alters the phosphorylation of TBC1D1/TBC1D4.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase / genetics
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase / metabolism*
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Glucose / pharmacology
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Insulin
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Tbc1d1 protein, mouse
  • Tbc1d4 protein, mouse
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase
  • Glucose