title: Effect of inhibiting vacuolar acidification on insulin signaling in hepatocytes.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that the endosomal apparatus plays an important role in insulin signaling. Inhibition of endosomal acidification leads to a decrease in insulin-insulin receptor kinase (IRK) dissociation and insulin degradation. Thus, vacuolar pH could function as a modulator of insulin signaling in endosomes. In the present study we show that in primary hepatocytes pretreated with bafilomycin, there is an inhibition of vacuolar acidification. Incubation of these cells with insulin was followed by an augmentation of IRK activity but an inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt activity and a decrease in insulin-induced DNA and glycogen synthesis. Bafilomycin treatment inhibited IRK recycling to the plasma membrane without affecting IRK internalization. Impaired IRK recycling correlated with a decrease in insulin signaling. We suggest that inhibiting vacuolar acidification sequesters activated IRKs in an intracellular compartment(s) where signaling is inhibited. This implies that endosomal receptor trafficking plays a role in regulating signal transduction.
authors.affiliation: Polypeptide Hormone Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 3640 University Street, Suite W315, Montreal, Province of Quebec H3A 2B2, Canada.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balbis
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baquiran
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dumas
authors.forename: Barry I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Posner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001665:Binding Sites; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006639:Histidine / Q000737:chemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018942:Macrolides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010802:Phylogeny; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012694:Serine / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013481:Superoxides; D013552:Swine; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007328:Insulin; D018942:Macrolides; D013481:Superoxides; C057620:bafilomycin A; D014443:Tyrosine; D012694:Serine; D006639:Histidine; D002738:Chloroquine; D006003:Glycogen; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D013936:Thymidine