title: The trimeric GTP-binding protein (G(q)/G(11)) alpha subunit is required for insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation in 3T3L1 adipocytes.
abstract: To investigate the potential role of trimeric GTP-binding proteins regulating GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes, wild type and constitutively active G(q) (G(q)/Q209L), G(i) (G(i)/Q205L), and G(s) (G(s)/Q227L) alpha subunit mutants were expressed in 3T3L1 adipocytes. Although expression of neither the wild type nor G(i)/Q205L and G(s)/Q227L alpha subunit mutants had any effect on the basal or insulin-stimulated translocation of a co-expressed GLUT4-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fusion protein, expression of G(q)/Q209L resulted in GLUT4-EGFP translocation in the absence of insulin. In contrast, microinjection of an inhibitory G(q)/G(11) alpha subunit-specific antibody but not a G(i) or G(s) alpha subunit antibody prevented insulin-stimulated endogenous GLUT4 translocation. Consistent with a required role for GTP-bound G(q)/G(11), expression of the regulators of G protein signaling (RGS4 and RGS16) also attenuated insulin-stimulated GLUT4-EGFP translocation. To assess the relationship between G(q)/G(11) function with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase dependent pathway, expression of a dominant-interfering p85 regulatory subunit, as well as wortmannin treatment inhibited insulin-stimulated but not G(q)/Q209L-stimulated GLUT4-EGFP translocation. Furthermore, G(q)/Q209L did not induce the in vivo accumulation of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP(3)), whereas expression of the RGS proteins did not prevent the insulin-stimulated accumulation of PIP(3). Together, these data demonstrate that insulin stimulation of GLUT4 translocation requires at least two independent signal transduction pathways, one mediated through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and another through the trimeric GTP-binding proteins G(q) and/or G(11).
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanzaki
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: N O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Artemyev
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Pessin
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000502:physiology*; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D051379:Mice; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D020710:RGS Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D020710:RGS Proteins; C495693:Slc2a4 protein, mouse; C098799:RGS4 protein; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go