title: The activation of glycogen synthase by insulin switches from kinase inhibition to phosphatase activation during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells.
abstract: The effects of insulin and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on glycogen synthase activation were compared in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and adipocytes. In the fibroblasts, PDGF elicited a stronger phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and AKT than did insulin. Both agents caused a comparable stimulation of receptor autophosphorylation, MAPK, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) activation in the adipocytes. However, adipogenesis resulted in the uncoupling of PI3-K activation by PDGF from subsequent AKT phosphorylation. The relative contributions of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) inactivation and protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) activation in the regulation of glycogen synthase in both cell types were evaluated. Insulin and PDGF caused a small increase in glycogen synthase a activity in the fibroblasts. Additionally, both agents caused a similar inhibition of GSK-3, while having no effect on PP1 activity. Following differentiation, insulin treatment resulted in a 5-fold stimulation of glycogen synthase, whereas PDGF was without effect. Both agents caused a comparable inhibition of GSK-3 activity in the adipocytes, whereas only insulin activated PP1. Finally, wortmannin completely blocked the stimulation of PP1 by insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, indicating that PI3-K inhibition can impinge on PP1 activation. Cumulatively these results suggest that the weak activation of glycogen synthase in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts is mediated by GSK-3 inactivation, whereas in the more metabolically active adipocytes, the insulin-specific activation of glycogen synthase is mediated by PP1 activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Bourbonais
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Saltiel
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006006:Glycogen Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D038341:Glycogen Synthase Kinases; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D019000:Phosphotyrosine / Q000032:analysis; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D054645:Protein Phosphatase 1; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / Q000378:metabolism; D000077191:Wortmannin
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D007328:Insulin; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic; D019000:Phosphotyrosine; D006006:Glycogen Synthase; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D038341:Glycogen Synthase Kinases; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D054645:Protein Phosphatase 1; D000077191:Wortmannin