title: Role of AMP-activated protein kinase in the regulation by glucose of islet beta cell gene expression.
abstract: Elevated glucose concentrations stimulate the transcription of the pre-proinsulin (PPI), L-type pyruvate kinase (L-PK), and other genes in islet beta cells. In liver cells, pharmacological activation by 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide riboside (AICAR) of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the mammalian homologue of the yeast SNF1 kinase complex, inhibits the effects of glucose, suggesting a key signaling role for this kinase. Here, we demonstrate that AMPK activity is inhibited by elevated glucose concentrations in MIN6 beta cells and that activation of the enzyme with AICAR prevents the activation of the L-PK gene by elevated glucose. Furthermore, microinjection of antibodies to the alpha2- (catalytic) or beta2-subunits of AMPK complex, but not to the alpha1-subunit or extracellular stimulus-regulated kinase, mimics the effects of elevated glucose on the L-PK and PPI promoter activities as assessed by single-cell imaging of promoter luciferase constructs. In each case, injection of antibodies into the nucleus and cytosol, but not the nucleus alone, was necessary, indicating the importance of either a cytosolic phosphorylation event or the subcellular localization of the alpha2-subunits. Incubation with AICAR diminished, but did not abolish, the effect of glucose on PPI transcription. These data suggest that glucose-induced changes in AMPK activity are necessary and sufficient for the regulation of the L-PK gene by the sugar and also play an important role in the regulation of the PPI promoter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: da Silva Xavier
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leclerc
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Salt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doiron
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hardie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rutter
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000235:genetics; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase / Q000235:genetics*; D012265:Ribonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D012265:Ribonucleotides; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; C031143:AICA ribonucleotide; D005947:Glucose