Faculty Opinions recommendation of Exercise improves phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate responsiveness of atypical protein kinase C and interacts with insulin signalling to peptide elongation in human skeletal muscle.

Insulin-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle is thought to be effected at least partly through atypical protein kinase C isoforms (aPKCs) operating downstream of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase and 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK-1). However, relatively little is known about the activation of aPKCs in physiological conditions or insulin-resistant states. Presently, we studied aPKC activation in vastus lateralis muscles of normal chow-fed and high-fat-fed rats and after streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. In normal chow-fed rats, dose-dependent increases in aPKC activity approached maximal levels after 15–30 min of stimulation by relatively high and lower, presumably more physiological, insulin concentrations, achieved by im insulin or ip glucose administration. Insulin-induced activation of aPKCs was impaired in both high-fat-fed and STZ-diabetic rats, but, surprisingly, IRS-1-dependent and IRS-2-dependent PI 3-kinase activation was not appreciably compromised. Most interestingly, direct in vitro activation of aPKCs by PI-3,4,5-(PO4)3, the lipid product of PI 3-kinase, was impaired in both high-fat-fed and STZ-diabetic rats. Defects in activation of aPKCs by insulin and PI-3,4,5-(PO4)3 could not be explained by diminished PDK-1-dependent phosphorylation of threonine-410 in the PKC-ζ activation loop, as this phosphorylation was increased even in the absence of insulin treatment in high-fat-fed rats. Conclusions: 1) muscle aPKCs are activated at relatively low, presumably physiological, as well as higher supraphysiological, insulin concentrations; 2) aPKC activation is defective in muscles of high-fat-fed and STZ-diabetic rats; and 3) defective aPKC activation in these states is at least partly due to impaired responsiveness to PI-3,4,5-(PO4)3, apparently at activation steps distal to PDK-1-dependent loop phosphorylation.

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Atypical protein kinase C in insulin action and insulin resistance

Biochemical Society Transactions ◽

10.1042/bst0330350 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 350-353 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

R.V. Farese ◽

M.P. Sajan ◽

M.L. Standaert

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Protein Kinase C ◽

Protein Kinase ◽

Lipid Synthesis ◽

Type Ii ◽

Atypical Protein Kinase C ◽

Atypical Protein Kinase ◽

Insulin Resistant ◽

Kinase C

It now seems clear that aPKC (atypical protein kinase C) isoforms are required for insulin-stimulated glucose transport in muscle and adipocytes. Moreover, there are marked defects in the activation of aPKCs under a variety of insulin-resistant conditions in humans, monkeys and rodents. In humans, defects in aPKC in muscle are seen in Type II diabetes and its precursors, obesity, the obesity-associated polycystic ovary syndrome and impaired glucose tolerance. These defects in muscle aPKC activation are due to both impaired activation of insulin receptor substrate-1-dependent PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) and the direct activation of aPKCs by the lipid product of PI3K, PI-3,4,5-(PO4)3. Although it is still uncertain which underlying defect comes first, the resultant defect in aPKC activation in muscle most certainly contributes significantly to the development of skeletal muscle insulin resistance. Of further note, unlike the seemingly ubiquitous presence of defective aPKC activation in skeletal muscle in insulin-resistant states, the activation of aPKC is normal or increased in livers of Type II diabetic and obese rodents. The maintenance of aPKC activation in the liver may explain how insulin-dependent lipid synthesis is maintained in these states, as aPKCs function mainly in the activation of enzymes important for lipid synthesis. Thus increased activation of liver aPKC in hyperinsulinaemic states may contribute significantly to the development of hyperlipidaemia in insulin-resistant states.

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