Biomedical subjects

Juleen R Zierath

Publications and source records attributed to Juleen R Zierath.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2025

A consensus guide to preclinical indirect calorimetry experiments.

Understanding the complex factors influencing mammalian metabolism and body weight homeostasis is a long-standing challenge requiring knowledge of energy intake, absorption and expenditure. Using measurements of respiratory gas exchange, indirect calorimetry can provide non-invasive estimates of whole-body energy expenditure. However, inconsistent measurement units and flawed data normalization methods have slowed progress in this field. This guide aims to establish consensus standards to unify indirect calorimetry experiments and their analysis for more consistent, meaningful and reproducible results. By establishing community-driven standards, we hope to facilitate data comparison across research datasets. This advance will allow the creation of an in-depth, machine-readable data repository built on shared standards. This overdue initiative stands to markedly improve the accuracy and depth of efforts to interrogate mammalian metabolism. Data sharing according to established best practices will also accelerate the translation of basic findings into clinical applications for metabolic diseases afflicting global populations.

Calorimetry, Indirect↗

PubMed2007

MAP4K4 gene silencing in human skeletal muscle prevents tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced insulin resistance.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induces skeletal muscle insulin resistance by impairing insulin signaling events involved in GLUT4 translocation. We tested whether mitogenic-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase isoform 4 (MAP4K4) causes the TNF-alpha-induced negative regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK-1/2), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) on the insulin signaling pathway governing glucose metabolism. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA) to suppress the expression of MAP4K4 protein 85% in primary human skeletal muscle cells, we provide evidence that TNF-alpha-induced insulin resistance on glucose uptake was completely prevented. MAP4K4 silencing inhibited TNF-alpha-induced negative signaling inputs by preventing excessive JNK and ERK-1/2 phosphorylation, as well as IRS-1 serine phosphorylation. These results highlight the MAPK4K4/JNK/ERK/IRS module in the negative regulation of insulin signaling to glucose transport in response to TNF-alpha. Depletion of MAP4K4 also prevented TNF-alpha-induced insulin resistance on Akt and the Akt substrate 160 (AS160), providing evidence that appropriate insulin signaling inputs for glucose metabolism were rescued. Silencing of MAP2K1 and MAP2K4, signaling proteins downstream of MAP4K4, recapitulated the effect of MAP4K4 siRNA in TNF-alpha-treated cells. Thus, strategies to inhibit MAP4K4 may be efficacious in the prevention of TNF-alpha-induced inhibitory signals that cause skeletal muscle insulin resistance on glucose metabolism in humans. Moreover, in myotubes from insulin-resistant type II diabetic patients, siRNA against MAP4K4, MAP2K4, or MAP2K1 restored insulin action on glucose uptake to levels observed in healthy subjects. Collectively, our results demonstrate that MAP4K4 silencing prevents insulin resistance in human skeletal muscle and restores appropriate signaling inputs to enhance glucose uptake.

Cell Differentiation↗

PubMed2006

Calcineurin regulates skeletal muscle metabolism via coordinated changes in gene expression.

The metabolic property of skeletal muscle adapts in response to an increased physiological demand by altering substrate utilization and gene expression. The calcium-regulated serine/threonine protein phosphatase calcineurin has been implicated in the transduction of motor neuron signals to alter gene expression programs in skeletal muscle. We utilized transgenic mice that overexpress an activated form of calcineurin in skeletal muscle (MCK-CnA*) to investigate the impact of calcineurin activation on metabolic properties of skeletal muscle. Activation of calcineurin increased glucose incorporation into glycogen and lipid oxidation in skeletal muscle. Activated calcineurin suppressed skeletal muscle glucose oxidation and increased lactate release. The enhancement in lipid oxidation was supported by increased expression of genes for lipid metabolism and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. In a reciprocal fashion, several genes of glycolysis were down-regulated, whereas pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 was markedly induced. This expression pattern was associated with decreased glucose utilization and enhanced glycogen storage. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and PPARgamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC1alpha) are transcription regulators for the expression of metabolic and mitochondrial genes. Consistent with changes in the gene-regulatory program, calcineurin promoted the expression of PPARalpha, PPARdelta, and PPARgamma coactivator 1alpha in skeletal muscle. These results provide evidence that calcineurin-mediated skeletal muscle reprogramming induces the expression of several transcription regulators that coordinate changes in the expression of genes for lipid and glucose metabolism, which in turn alters energy substrate utilization in skeletal muscle.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Neuregulins mediate calcium-induced glucose transport during muscle contraction.

Neuregulin, a growth factor involved in myogenesis, has rapid effects on muscle metabolism. In a manner analogous to insulin and exercise, neuregulins stimulate glucose transport through recruitment of glucose transporters to surface membranes in skeletal muscle. Like muscle contraction, neuregulins have additive effects with insulin on glucose uptake. Therefore, we examined whether neuregulins are involved in the mechanism by which muscle contraction regulates glucose transport. We show that caffeine-induced increases in cytosolic Ca2+ mediate a metalloproteinase-dependent release of neuregulins, which stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of ErbB4 receptors. Activation of ErbB4 is necessary for Ca2+-derived effects on glucose transport. Furthermore, blockage of ErbB4 abruptly impairs contraction-induced glucose uptake in slow twitch muscle fibers, and to a lesser extent, in fast twitch muscle fibers. In conclusion, we provide evidence that contraction-induced activation of neuregulin receptors is necessary for the stimulation of glucose transport and a key element of energetic metabolism during muscle contraction.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Opposite transcriptional regulation in skeletal muscle of AMP-activated protein kinase gamma3 R225Q transgenic versus knock-out mice.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an evolutionarily conserved heterotrimer important for metabolic sensing in all eukaryotes. The muscle-specific isoform of the regulatory gamma-subunit of the kinase, AMPK gamma3, has an important role in glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis, and fat oxidation in white skeletal muscle, as previously demonstrated by physiological characterization of AMPK gamma3 mutant (R225Q) transgenic (TgPrkag3(225Q)) and gamma3 knock-out (Prkag3(-/-)) mice. We determined AMPK gamma3-dependent regulation of gene expression by analyzing global transcription profiles in glycolytic skeletal muscle from gamma3 mutant transgenic and knock-out mice using oligonucleotide microarray technology. Evidence is provided for coordinated and reciprocal regulation of multiple key components in glucose and fat metabolism, as well as skeletal muscle ergogenics in TgPrkag3(225Q) and Prkag3(-/-) mice. The differential gene expression profile was consistent with the physiological differences between the models, providing a molecular mechanism for the observed phenotype. The striking pattern of opposing transcriptional changes between TgPrkag3(225Q) and Prkag3(-/-) mice identifies differentially expressed targets being truly regulated by AMPK and is consistent with the view that R225Q is an activating mutation, in terms of its downstream effects. Additionally, we identified a wide array of novel targets and regulatory pathways for AMPK in skeletal muscle.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗

PubMed2006

siRNA-based gene silencing reveals specialized roles of IRS-1/Akt2 and IRS-2/Akt1 in glucose and lipid metabolism in human skeletal muscle.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with defects in insulin signaling and the resulting abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. The complexity of insulin signaling cascades is highlighted by the existence of multiple isoforms of target proteins implicated in metabolic and gene-regulatory events. We utilized siRNA to decipher the specific role of predominant insulin receptor substrates and Akt isoforms expressed in human skeletal muscle. Gene silencing revealed specialized roles of insulin signaling cascades to metabolic endpoints. IRS-1 and Akt2 were required for myoblast differentiation and glucose metabolism, whereas IRS-2 and Akt1 were dispensable. A key role of IRS-2 and Akt1 in lipid metabolism was revealed, highlighting reciprocal relationships between metabolic pathways. Unraveling the isoform-specific regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism by key elements along insulin signaling cascades through siRNA-mediated gene silencing in human tissues will facilitate the discovery of novel targets for the treatment of diabetes and related metabolic disorders.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed2006

Signalling mechanisms in skeletal muscle: role in substrate selection and muscle adaptation.

Exercise produces a multitude of time- and intensity-dependent physiological, biochemical and molecular changes within skeletal muscle. With the onset of contractile activity, cytosolic and mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] levels are rapidly increased and, depending on the relative intensity of the exercise, metabolite concentrations change (i.e. increases in [ADP] and [AMP], decreases in muscle creatine phosphate and glycogen). These contraction-induced metabolic disturbances activate several key kinases and phosphatases involved in signal transduction. Important among these are the calcium dependent signalling pathways that respond to elevated Ca(2+) concentrations (including Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase, Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase C and the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin), the 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, several of the mitogen-activated protein kinases and protein kinase B/Akt. The role of these signal transducers in the regulation of carbohydrate and fat metabolism in response to increased contractile activity has been the focus of intense research efforts during the past decade.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗

PubMed2006

AMP-activated protein kinase signaling in metabolic regulation.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an energy sensor that regulates cellular metabolism. When activated by a deficit in nutrient status, AMPK stimulates glucose uptake and lipid oxidation to produce energy, while turning off energy-consuming processes including glucose and lipid production to restore energy balance. AMPK controls whole-body glucose homeostasis by regulating metabolism in multiple peripheral tissues, such as skeletal muscle, liver, adipose tissues, and pancreatic beta cells--key tissues in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. By responding to diverse hormonal signals including leptin and adiponectin, AMPK serves as an intertissue signal integrator among peripheral tissues, as well as the hypothalamus, in the control of whole-body energy balance.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗

PubMed2006

Insulin signaling and glucose transport in skeletal muscle from first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients.

Aberrant insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle from type 2 diabetic patients may arise from genetic defects and an altered metabolic milieu. We determined insulin action on signal transduction and glucose transport in isolated vastus lateralis skeletal muscle from normal glucose-tolerant first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients (n = 8, 41 +/- 3 years, BMI 25.1 +/- 0.8 kg/m(2)) and healthy control subjects (n = 9, 40 +/- 2 years, BMI 23.4 +/- 0.7 kg/m(2)) with no family history of diabetes. Basal and submaximal insulin-stimulated (0.6 and 1.2 nmol/l) glucose transport was comparable between groups, whereas the maximal response (120 nmol/l) was 38% lower (P < 0.05) in the relatives. Insulin increased phosphorylation of Akt and Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160) in a dose-dependent manner, with comparable responses between groups. AS160 phosphorylation and glucose transport were positively correlated in control subjects (R(2) = 0.97, P = 0.01) but not relatives (R(2) = 0.46, P = 0.32). mRNA of key transcriptional factors and coregulators of mitochondrial biogenesis were also determined. Skeletal muscle mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma coactivator (PGC)-1alpha, PGC-1beta, PPARdelta, nuclear respiratory factor-1, and uncoupling protein-3 was comparable between first-degree relatives and control subjects. In conclusion, the uncoupling of insulin action on Akt/AS160 signaling and glucose transport implicates defective GLUT4 trafficking as an early event in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Exercise-induced phosphorylation of the novel Akt substrates AS160 and filamin A in human skeletal muscle.

Skeletal muscle contraction stimulates multiple signaling cascades that govern a variety of metabolic and transcriptional events. Akt/protein kinase B regulates metabolism and growth/muscle hypertrophy, but contraction effects on this target and its substrates are varied and may depend on the mode of the contractile stimulus. Accordingly, we determined the effects of endurance or resistance exercise on phosphorylation of Akt and downstream substrates in six trained cyclists who performed a single bout of endurance or resistance exercise separated by approximately 7 days. Muscle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis at rest and immediately after exercise. Akt Ser(473) phosphorylation was increased (1.8-fold; P=0.011) after endurance but was unchanged after resistance exercise. Conversely, Akt Thr(308) phosphorylation was unaltered after either bout of exercise. Several exercise-responsive phosphoproteins were detected by immunoblot analysis with a phospho-Akt substrate antibody. pp160 and pp300 were identified as AS160 and filamin A, respectively, with increased phosphorylation (2.0- and 4.9-fold, respectively; P<0.05) after endurance but not resistance exercise. In conclusion, AS160 and filamin A may provide an important link to mediate endurance exercise-induced bioeffects in skeletal muscle.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

AMPK-mediated AS160 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle is dependent on AMPK catalytic and regulatory subunits.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a heterotrimeric protein that regulates glucose transport mediated by cellular stress or pharmacological agonists such as 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1 beta-d-ribonucleoside (AICAR). AS160, a Rab GTPase-activating protein, provides a mechanism linking AMPK signaling to glucose uptake. We show that AICAR increases AMPK, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and AS160 phosphorylation by insulin-independent mechanisms in isolated skeletal muscle. Recombinant AMPK heterotrimeric complexes (alpha1beta1gamma1 and alpha2beta2gamma1) phosphorylate AS160 in a cell-free assay. In mice deficient in AMPK signaling (alpha2 AMPK knockout [KO], alpha2 AMPK kinase dead [KD], and gamma3 AMPK KO), AICAR effects on AS160 phosphorylation were severely blunted, highlighting that complexes containing alpha2 and gamma3 are necessary for AICAR-stimulated AS160 phosphorylation in intact skeletal muscle. Contraction-mediated AS160 phosphorylation was also impaired in alpha2 AMPK KO and KD but not gamma3 AMPK KO mice. Our results implicate AS160 as a downstream target of AMPK.

Adenylate Kinase↗

PubMed2006

IRS-1 serine phosphorylation and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle from pancreas transplant recipients.

Insulin-dependent diabetic recipients of successful pancreas allografts achieve self-regulatory insulin secretion and discontinue exogenous insulin therapy; however, chronic hyperinsulinemia and impaired insulin sensitivity generally develop. To determine whether insulin resistance is accompanied by altered signal transduction, skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained from pancreas-kidney transplant recipients (n = 4), nondiabetic kidney transplant recipients (receiving the same immunosuppressive drugs; n = 5), and healthy subjects (n = 6) before and during a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. Basal insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 Ser (312) and Ser (616) phosphorylation, IRS-1-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1/2 phosphorylation were elevated in pancreas-kidney transplant recipients, coincident with fasting hyperinsulinemia. Basal IRS-1 Ser (312) and Ser (616) phosphorylation was also increased in nondiabetic kidney transplant recipients. Insulin increased phosphorylation of IRS-1 at Ser (312) but not Ser (616) in healthy subjects, with impairments noted in nondiabetic kidney and pancreas-kidney transplant recipients. Insulin action on ERK-1/2 and Akt phosphorylation was impaired in pancreas-kidney transplant recipients and was preserved in nondiabetic kidney transplant recipients. Importantly, insulin stimulation of the Akt substrate AS160 was impaired in nondiabetic kidney and pancreas-kidney transplant recipients. In conclusion, peripheral insulin resistance in pancreas-kidney transplant recipients may arise from a negative feedback regulation of the canonical insulin-signaling cascade from excessive serine phosphorylation of IRS-1, possibly as a consequence of immunosuppressive therapy and hyperinsulinemia.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Differential expression of peroxisomal proliferator activated receptors alpha and delta in skeletal muscle in response to changes in diet and exercise.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) alpha, delta and gamma are nuclear transcription factors that control key genes involved in fatty acid metabolism and energy homeostasis. Little is known about PPAR activation in vivo and the existence of overlapping functions between PPARalpha, -delta and -gamma. As skeletal muscle is an important site for insulin action and acts as a significant sensor for life-style-induced influences in whole-body energy metabolism, we investigated the expression of PPARalpha, -delta and -gamma in rat skeletal muscle in response to exercise after four- and twelve-weeks of high-fat feeding, respectively. PPARalpha mRNA expression in skeletal muscle increased in parallel with other signs of developing metabolic syndrome such as increased visceral fat pad volymes, plasma free fatty acids and muscle triglyceride concentrations. PPARalpha mRNA expression was up-regulated 3-fold after four weeks of high-fat feeding (p<0.01). Exercise reversed the high-fat induced increase in PPARalpha expression in young lean rats (p<0.05), but did not change the PPARalpha, -delta and -gamma expression in the skeletal muscle in the normal nutritional state. The increase in PPARalpha expression declined during a longer term of high-fat feeding. In contrast, exercise increased PPARdelta mRNA and protein expression 3- to 6-fold in skeletal muscle after longer-term high-fat feeding (p<0.05). This effect was accompanied by a reduction in skeletal muscle fat content. These findings suggest that parallel activation of PPARalpha and -delta expression in skeletal muscle may be an important adaptive mechanism in response to increased fatty acid loads in young, lean animals, protecting them from insulin resistance, whereas exercise might be needed to mediate the same positive effects in older animals.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2005

Early signaling responses to divergent exercise stimuli in skeletal muscle from well-trained humans.

Skeletal muscle from strength- and endurance-trained individuals represents diverse adaptive states. In this regard, AMPK-PGC-1alpha signaling mediates several adaptations to endurance training, while up-regulation of the Akt-TSC2-mTOR pathway may underlie increased protein synthesis after resistance exercise. We determined the effect of prior training history on signaling responses in seven strength-trained and six endurance-trained males who undertook 1 h cycling at 70% VO2peak or eight sets of five maximal repetitions of isokinetic leg extensions. Muscle biopsies were taken at rest, immediately and 3 h postexercise. AMPK phosphorylation increased after cycling in strength-trained (54%; P<0.05) but not endurance-trained subjects. Conversely, AMPK was elevated after resistance exercise in endurance- (114%; P<0.05), but not strength-trained subjects. Akt phosphorylation increased in endurance- (50%; P<0.05), but not strength-trained subjects after cycling but was unchanged in either group after resistance exercise. TSC2 phosphorylation was decreased (47%; P<0.05) in endurance-trained subjects following resistance exercise, but cycling had little effect on the phosphorylation state of this protein in either group. p70S6K phosphorylation increased in endurance- (118%; P<0.05), but not strength-trained subjects after resistance exercise, but was similar to rest in both groups after cycling. Similarly, phosphorylation of S6 protein, a substrate for p70 S6K, was increased immediately following resistance exercise in endurance- (129%; P<0.05), but not strength-trained subjects. In conclusion, a degree of "response plasticity" is conserved at opposite ends of the endurance-hypertrophic adaptation continuum. Moreover, prior training attenuates the exercise specific signaling responses involved in single mode adaptations to training.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗

PubMed2005

Effects of calcineurin activation on insulin-, AICAR- and contraction-induced glucose transport in skeletal muscle.

Skeletal muscle is composed of fast- and slow-twitch fibres with distinctive physiological and metabolic properties. The calmodulin-activated serine/threonine protein phosphatase calcineurin activates fast- to slow-twitch skeletal muscle remodelling through the induction of the slow-twitch skeletal muscle fibre gene expression programme, thereby enhancing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and offering protection against dietary-induced insulin resistance. Given the profound influence of skeletal muscle fibre type on insulin-mediated responses, we determined whether the fast- to slow-twitch fibre-type transformation leads to alterations in insulin-independent glucose uptake in transgenic mice expressing a constitutively active form of calcineurin (MCK-CnA* mice). We determined whether skeletal muscle remodelling by activated calcineurin alters glucose transport in response to the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) or muscle contraction, two divergent insulin-independent activators of glucose transport. While insulin-stimulated glucose transport was increased 52%, the AICAR effect on glucose transport was 27% lower in MCK-CnA* mice versus wild-type mice (P < 0.05). In contrast, glucose transport was similar between genotypes after in vitro muscle contraction. Fibre-type transformation was associated with increased AMPKgamma1, decreased AMPKgamma3 and unchanged AMPKgamma2 protein expression between MCK-CnA* and wild-type mice (P < 0.05). The loss of AICAR-mediated glucose uptake is coupled to changes in the AMPK isoform expression, suggesting fibre-type dependence of the AICAR responses on glucose uptake. In conclusion, improvements in skeletal muscle glucose transport in response to calcineurin-induced muscle remodelling are limited to insulin action.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗

PubMed2005

5'-AMP-activated protein kinase regulates skeletal muscle glycogen content and ergogenics.

5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity is increased during exercise in an intensity- and glycogen-dependent manner. We previously reported that a mutation in the AMPK3 subunit (Prkag3225Q) increases AMPK activity and skeletal muscle glycogen content. Transfection experiments revealed the R225Q mutation is associated with high basal AMPK activity and diminished AMP dependence. Thus, the R225Q mutation can be considered a loss-of-function mutation that abolished allosteric regulation by AMP/ATP, causing increased basal AMPK activity. We used AMPK3 transgenic (Tg-Prkag3225Q) and knockout (Prkag3-/-) mice to determine the relationship between AMPK activity, glycogen content, and ergogenics (ability to perform work) in isolated extensor digitorum longus skeletal muscle after contractions induced by electrical stimulation. Contraction-induced AMPK activity was inversely coupled to glycogen content in wild-type and Tg-Prkag3225Q mice, but not in Prkag3-/- mice, highlighting a partial feedback control of glycogen on contraction-induced AMPK activity in the presence of a functional AMPK3 isoform. Skeletal muscle glycogen content was positively correlated to work performance, regardless of genotype. Thus, chronic activation of AMPK by the Prkag3225Q mutation directly influences skeletal muscle ergogenics by enhancing glycogen content. In conclusion, functional studies of the AMPK3 isoform further support the close connection between glycogen content and exercise performance in skeletal muscle.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗

PubMed2005

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces skeletal muscle insulin resistance in healthy human subjects via inhibition of Akt substrate 160 phosphorylation.

Most lifestyle-related chronic diseases are characterized by low-grade systemic inflammation and insulin resistance. Excessive tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations have been implicated in the development of insulin resistance, but direct evidence in humans is lacking. Here, we demonstrate that TNF-alpha infusion in healthy humans induces insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, without effect on endogenous glucose production, as estimated by a combined euglycemic insulin clamp and stable isotope tracer method. TNF-alpha directly impairs glucose uptake and metabolism by altering insulin signal transduction. TNF-alpha infusion increases phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2, and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, concomitant with increased serine and reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1. These signaling effects are associated with impaired phosphorylation of Akt substrate 160, the most proximal step identified in the canonical insulin signaling cascade regulating GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake. Thus, excessive concentrations of TNF-alpha negatively regulate insulin signaling and whole-body glucose uptake in humans. Our results provide a molecular link between low-grade systemic inflammation and the metabolic syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Changes in exercise-induced gene expression in 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase gamma3-null and gamma3 R225Q transgenic mice.

5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is important for metabolic sensing. We used AMPKgamma3 mutant-overexpressing Tg-Prkag3(225Q) and AMPKgamma3-knockout Prkag3-/- mice to determine the role of the AMPKgamma3 isoform in exercise-induced metabolic and gene regulatory responses in skeletal muscle. Mice were studied after 2 h swimming or 2.5 h recovery. Exercise increased basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport, with similar responses among genotypes. In Tg-Prkag3(225Q) mice, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation was increased and triglyceride content was reduced after exercise, suggesting that this mutation promotes greater reliance on lipid oxidation. In contrast, ACC phosphorylation and triglyceride content was similar between wild-type and Prkag3-/- mice. Expression of genes involved in lipid and glucose metabolism was altered by genetic modification of AMPKgamma3. Expression of lipoprotein lipase 1, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1b, and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase was increased in Tg-Prkag3(225Q) mice, with opposing effects in Prkag3-/- mice after exercise. GLUT4, hexokinase II (HKII), and glycogen synthase mRNA expression was increased in Tg-Prkag3(225Q) mice after exercise. GLUT4 and HKII mRNA expression was increased in wild-type mice and blunted in Prkag3-/- mice after recovery. In conclusion, the Prkag3(225Q) mutation, rather than presence of a functional AMPKgamma3 isoform, directly promotes metabolic and gene regulatory responses along lipid oxidative pathways in skeletal muscle after endurance exercise.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗