title: Rho GTPases in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake.
abstract: Insulin is secreted into blood vessels from β cells of pancreatic islets in response to high blood glucose levels. Insulin stimulates an array of physiological responses in target tissues, including liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue, thereby reducing the blood glucose level. Insulin-dependent glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue is primarily mediated by the redistribution of the glucose transporter type 4 from intracellular storage sites to the plasma membrane. Evidence for the participation of the Rho family GTPase Rac1 in glucose uptake signaling in skeletal muscle has emerged from studies using cell cultures and genetically engineered mice. Herein, recent progress in understanding the function and regulation of Rac1, especially the cross-talk with the protein kinase Akt2, is highlighted. In addition, the role for another Rho family member TC10 and its regulatory mechanism in adipocyte insulin signaling are described.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology; Department of Biological Science; Graduate School of Science; Osaka Prefecture University; Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takaya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Satoh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007328:Insulin; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D005947:Glucose
keywords: GLUT4; Rac1; TC10; adipose tissue; exocyst complex; exocytosis; glucose uptake; insulin; skeletal muscle