title: The kinase LKB1 mediates glucose homeostasis in liver and therapeutic effects of metformin.
abstract: The Peutz-Jegher syndrome tumor-suppressor gene encodes a protein-threonine kinase, LKB1, which phosphorylates and activates AMPK [adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase]. The deletion of LKB1 in the liver of adult mice resulted in a nearly complete loss of AMPK activity. Loss of LKB1 function resulted in hyperglycemia with increased gluconeogenic and lipogenic gene expression. In LKB1-deficient livers, TORC2, a transcriptional coactivator of CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein), was dephosphorylated and entered the nucleus, driving the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha), which in turn drives gluconeogenesis. Adenoviral small hairpin RNA (shRNA) for TORC2 reduced PGC-1alpha expression and normalized blood glucose levels in mice with deleted liver LKB1, indicating that TORC2 is a critical target of LKB1/AMPK signals in the regulation of gluconeogenesis. Finally, we show that metformin, one of the most widely prescribed type 2 diabetes therapeutics, requires LKB1 in the liver to lower blood glucose levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. shaw@salk.edu
authors.forename: Reuben J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Katja A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lamia
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.forename: Seung-Hoi
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Nabeel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bardeesy
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Depinho
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montminy
authors.forename: Lewis C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Cantley
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005943:Gluconeogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050155:Lipogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; C504923:Crtc2 protein, mouse; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; C485290:Ppargc1a protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D008687:Metformin; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C491654:Stk11 protein, mouse; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D005947:Glucose