title: Glycogen synthase kinase 3alpha-specific regulation of murine hepatic glycogen metabolism.
abstract: Glycogen synthase kinase 3 comprises two isoforms (GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta) that are implicated in type II diabetes, neurodegeneration, and cancer. GSK-3 activity is elevated in human and rodent models of diabetes, and various GSK-3 inhibitors improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in rodent models of obesity and diabetes. Here, we report the generation of mice lacking GSK-3alpha. Unlike GSK-3beta mutants, which die before birth, GSK-3alpha knockout (GSK-3alpha KO) animals are viable but display enhanced glucose and insulin sensitivity accompanied by reduced fat mass. Fasted and glucose-stimulated hepatic glycogen content was enhanced in GSK-3alpha KO mice, whereas muscle glycogen was unaltered. Insulin-stimulated protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and GSK-3beta phosphorylation was higher in GSK-3alpha KO livers compared to wild-type littermates, and IRS-1 expression was markedly increased. We conclude that GSK-3 isoforms exhibit tissue-specific physiological functions and that GSK-3alpha KO mice are insulin sensitive, reinforcing the potential of GSK-3 as a therapeutic target for type II diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: MacAulay
authors.forename: Bradley W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Doble
authors.forename: Satish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansotia
authors.forename: Elaine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Drucker
authors.forename: Andras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Woodgett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008112:Liver Glycogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008112:Liver Glycogen; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; C448021:glycogen synthase kinase 3 alpha; D005947:Glucose