Acetylation of TUG protein promotes the accumulation of GLUT4 glucose transporters in an insulin-responsive intracellular compartment

Mast cell-mediated inflammation relies on insulin-regulated aminopeptidase controlling cytokine export from the Golgi

BACKGROUND

On activation, mast cells rapidly release preformed inflammatory mediators from large cytoplasmic granules via regulated exocytosis. This acute degranulation is followed by a late activation phase involving synthesis and secretion of cytokines, growth factors, and other inflammatory molecules via the constitutive pathway that remains ill defined.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the role for an insulin-responsive vesicle-like endosomal compartment, marked by insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), in the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 in mast cells and macrophages.

METHODS

Murine knockout (KO) mouse models (IRAP-KO and kit-W^sh/sh) were used to study inflammatory disease models and to measure and mechanistically investigate cytokine secretion and degranulation in bone marrow-derived mast cells in vitro.

RESULTS

IRAP-KO mice are protected from TNF-α-dependent kidney injury and inflammatory arthritis. In the absence of IRAP, TNF-α and IL-6 but not IL-10 fail to be efficiently secreted. Moreover, chemical targeting of IRAP endosomes reduced proinflammatory cytokine secretion. Mechanistically, impaired TNF-α export from the Golgi and reduced colocalization of vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP) 3-positive TNF-α transport vesicles with syntaxin 4 (aka Stx4) was observed in IRAP-KO mast cells, while VAMP8-dependent exocytosis of secretory granules was facilitated.

CONCLUSION

IRAP plays a novel role in mast cell-mediated inflammation through the regulation of exocytic trafficking of cytokines.

Endosomal trafficking in metabolic homeostasis and diseases

The global prevalences of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus have reached epidemic status, presenting a heavy burden on society. It is therefore essential to find novel mechanisms and targets that could be utilized in potential treatment strategies and, as such, intracellular membrane trafficking has re-emerged as a regulatory tool for controlling metabolic homeostasis. Membrane trafficking is an essential physiological process that is responsible for the sorting and distribution of signalling receptors, membrane transporters and hormones or other ligands between different intracellular compartments and the plasma membrane. Dysregulation of intracellular transport is associated with many human diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, immune deficiencies and metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and its associated complications. This Review focuses on the latest advances on the role of endosomal membrane trafficking in metabolic physiology and pathology in vivo, highlighting the importance of this research field in targeting metabolic diseases.

ACBD3 Bioinformatic Analysis and Protein Expression in Breast Cancer Cells

ACBD3 overexpression has previously been found to correlate with worse prognosis for breast cancer patients and, as an incredibly diverse protein in both function and cellular localisation, ACBD3 may have a larger role in breast cancer than previously thought. This study further investigated ACBD3′s role in breast cancer. Bioinformatic databases were queried to characterise ACBD3 expression and mutation in breast cancer and to investigate how overexpression affects breast cancer patient outcomes. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to examine ACBD3 location within cells and tissue structures. ACBD3 was more highly expressed in breast cancer than in any other cancer or matched normal tissue, and expression over the median level resulted in reduced relapse-free, overall, and distant metastasis-free survival for breast cancer patients as a whole, with some differences observed between subtypes. IHC analysis found that ACBD3 levels varied based on hormone receptor status, indicating that ACBD3 could be a candidate biomarker for poor patient prognosis in breast cancer and may possibly be a biomarker for ER signal reprogramming of precancerous breast tissue.

Endosomal v-ATPase as a Sensor Determining Myocardial Substrate Preference

The heart is a metabolically flexible omnivore that can utilize a variety of substrates for energy provision. To fulfill cardiac energy requirements, the healthy adult heart mainly uses long-chain fatty acids and glucose in a balanced manner, but when exposed to physiological or pathological stimuli, it can switch its substrate preference to alternative substrates such as amino acids (AAs) and ketone bodies. Using the failing heart as an example, upon stress, the fatty acid/glucose substrate balance is upset, resulting in an over-reliance on either fatty acids or glucose. A chronic fuel shift towards a single type of substrate is linked with cardiac dysfunction. Re-balancing myocardial substrate preference is suggested as an effective strategy to rescue the failing heart. In the last decade, we revealed that vacuolar-type H⁺-ATPase (v-ATPase) functions as a key regulator of myocardial substrate preference and, therefore, as a novel potential treatment approach for the failing heart. Fatty acids, glucose, and AAs selectively influence the assembly state of v-ATPase resulting in modulation of its proton-pumping activity. In this review, we summarize these novel insights on v-ATPase as an integrator of nutritional information. We also describe its exploitation as a therapeutic target with focus on supplementation of AA as a nutraceutical approach to fight lipid-induced insulin resistance and contractile dysfunction of the heart.

Trans-ferulic acid attenuates hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and modulates glucose metabolism by activating AMPK signaling pathway in vitro

Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a potent metabolic regulator and an attractive target for antidiabetic activators. Here we report for the first that, trans-ferulic acid (TFA) is a potent dietary bioactive molecule of hydroxycinnamic acid derivative for the activation of AMPK with a maximum increase in phosphorylation (2.71/2.67 ± 0.10; p < .001 vs. high glucose [HG] control) in hyperglycemia-induced human liver cells (HepG2) and rat skeletal muscle cells (L6), where HG suppresses the AMPK pathway. It was also observed that TFA increased activation of AMPK in a dose- and time-dependent manner and also increased the phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), suggesting that it may promotes fatty acid oxidation; however, pretreatment with compound C reversed the effect. In addition, TFA reduced the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) induced by hyperglycemia and subsequently increased the level of glutathione. Interestingly, TFA also upregulated the glucose transporters, GLUT2 and GLUT4, and inhibited c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK1/2) by decreasing the phosphorylation level in tested cells under HG condition. Our studies provide critical insights into the mechanism of action of TFA as a potential natural activator of AMPK under hyperglycemia. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives possess various pharmacological properties and are found to be one of the most ubiquitous groups of plant metabolites in almost all dietary sources. However, the tissue-specific role and its mechanism under hyperglycemic condition remain largely unknown. The present study showed that TFA is a potent activator of AMPK under HG condition and it could be used as a therapeutic agent against hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes.

Ubiquitin-like processing of TUG proteins as a mechanism to regulate glucose uptake and energy metabolism in fat and muscle

In response to insulin stimulation, fat and muscle cells mobilize GLUT4 glucose transporters to the cell surface to enhance glucose uptake. Ubiquitin-like processing of TUG (Aspscr1, UBXD9) proteins is a central mechanism to regulate this process. Here, recent advances in this area are reviewed. The data support a model in which intact TUG traps insulin-responsive "GLUT4 storage vesicles" at the Golgi matrix by binding vesicle cargoes with its N-terminus and matrix proteins with its C-terminus. Insulin stimulation liberates these vesicles by triggering endoproteolytic cleavage of TUG, mediated by the Usp25m protease. Cleavage occurs in fat and muscle cells, but not in fibroblasts or other cell types. Proteolytic processing of intact TUG generates TUGUL, a ubiquitin-like protein modifier, as the N-terminal cleavage product. In adipocytes, TUGUL modifies a single protein, the KIF5B kinesin motor, which carries GLUT4 and other vesicle cargoes to the cell surface. In muscle, this or another motor may be modified. After cleavage of intact TUG, the TUG C-terminal product is extracted from the Golgi matrix by the p97 (VCP) ATPase. In both muscle and fat, this cleavage product enters the nucleus, binds PPARγ and PGC-1α, and regulates gene expression to promote fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis. The stability of the TUG C-terminal product is regulated by an Ate1 arginyltransferase-dependent N-degron pathway, which may create a feedback mechanism to control oxidative metabolism. Although it is now clear that TUG processing coordinates glucose uptake with other aspects of physiology and metabolism, many questions remain about how this pathway is regulated and how it is altered in metabolic disease in humans.

Neuregulin 4 Downregulation Induces Insulin Resistance in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes through Inflammation and Autophagic Degradation of GLUT4 Vesicles

The adipokine Neuregulin 4 (Nrg4) protects against obesity-induced insulin resistance. Here, we analyze how the downregulation of Nrg4 influences insulin action and the underlying mechanisms in adipocytes. Validated shRNA lentiviral vectors were used to generate scramble (Scr) and Nrg4 knockdown (KD) 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Adipogenesis was unaffected in Nrg4 KD adipocytes, but there was a complete impairment of the insulin-induced 2-deoxyglucose uptake, which was likely the result of reduced insulin receptor and Glut4 protein. Downregulation of Nrg4 enhanced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Anti-inflammatory agents recovered the insulin receptor, but not Glut4, content. Proteins enriched in Glut4 storage vesicles such as the insulin-responsive aminopeptidase (IRAP) and Syntaxin-6 as well as TBC1D4, a protein involved in the intracellular retention of Glut4 vesicles, also decreased by Nrg4 KD. Insulin failed to reduce autophagy in Nrg4 KD adipocytes, observed by a minor effect on mTOR phosphorylation, at the time that proteins involved in autophagy such as LC3-II, Rab11, and Clathrin were markedly upregulated. The lysosomal activity inhibitor bafilomycin A1 restored Glut4, IRAP, Syntaxin-6, and TBC1D4 content to those found in control adipocytes. Our study reveals that Nrg4 preserves the insulin responsiveness by preventing inflammation and, in turn, benefits the insulin regulation of autophagy.

p300 or CBP is required for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and adipocytes

While current thinking posits that insulin signaling to GLUT4 exocytic translocation and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and adipocytes is controlled by phosphorylation-based signaling, many proteins in this pathway are acetylated on lysine residues. However, the importance of acetylation and lysine acetyltransferases to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is incompletely defined. Here, we demonstrate that combined loss of the acetyltransferases E1A binding protein p300 (p300) and cAMP response element binding protein binding protein (CBP) in mouse skeletal muscle causes a complete loss of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Similarly, brief (i.e. 1 h) pharmacological inhibition of p300/CBP acetyltransferase activity recapitulates this phenotype in human and rodent myotubes, 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and mouse muscle. Mechanistically, these effects are due to p300/CBP-mediated regulation of GLUT4 exocytic translocation and occurs downstream of Akt signaling. Taken together, we highlight a fundamental role for acetylation and p300/CBP in the direct regulation of insulin-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle and adipocytes.

The role of Sirtuin 2 in sustaining functional integrity of the liver

AIM

Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is a NAD+-dependent deacetylase involved in various biological functions via deacetylation of proteins, including histone protein. Hepatic fat accumulation from aging and excess caloric intake contribute to development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The study aim was to elucidate the role of SIRT2 in lipid metabolism homeostasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SIRT2^+/+ (C57BL/6) and SIRT2^-/- were randomly assigned to normal diet or high-fat diet (HFD) groups and fed for 6 weeks. Histological features of the livers were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining, and the levels of selected factors were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

Although the SIRT2^-/- mice were viable, their livers exhibited higher glycogen accumulation, and skeletal muscle showed features of increased metabolic demand. The SIRT2^-/- mice attenuated HFD-induced weight gain, visceral adipose tissue formation, and fat accumulation in the liver in which the expressions of genes involved in metabolic substrate transport were modified. Additionally, the hepatocellular senescence and upregulated cell-cycle factors upon HFD intake in SIRT2^-/- livers suggested a role of SIRT2 in gene expression during abnormal metabolism. Moreover, the fibrotic phenotype of liver tissue without fat accumulation and the increased expression of genes involved in liver fibrosis in the HFD-fed SIRT2^-/- mice indicated that SIRT2 had a role in hepatocyte and hepatic stellate cell activation.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our results indicated that SIRT2 has a critical role in regulating lipid metabolic homeostasis and in sustaining liver integrity by modulating related gene expression.

Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2): Confusing Roles in the Pathophysiology of Neurological Disorders

As a type of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺)-dependent deacetylases, sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is predominantly found in the cytoplasm of cells in the central nervous system (CNS), suggesting its potential role in neurological disorders. Though SIRT2 is generally acknowledged to accelerate the development of neurological pathologies, it protects the brain from deterioration in certain circumstances. This review summarized the complex roles SIRT2 plays in the pathophysiology of diverse neurological disorders, compared and analyzed the discrete roles of SIRT2 in different conditions, and provided possible explanations for its paradoxical functions. In the future, the rapid growth in SIRT2 research may clarify its impacts on neurological disorders and develop therapeutic strategies targeting this protein.

Inhibition of visfatin by FK866 mitigates pathogenesis of cystic ovary in letrozole-induced hyperandrogenised mice

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common reproductive disorder in the female of reproductive age, which is characterized by hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, cystic ovary and infertility. The level of pro-inflammatory adipokine, visfatin is elevated in PCOS conditions in human and animal. In this study, letrozole induced hyperandrogenised PCOS mice model have been used to unravel the effects of visfatin inhibition. The results showed that letrozole induced hyperandrogenisation significantly (p < 0.05) elevates ovarian visfatin concentration from 66.03 ± 1.77 to 112.08 ± 3.7 ng/ml, and visfatin expression to 2.5 fold (p < 0.05) compared to control. Visfatin inhibition in PCOS by FK866 has significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed the secretion of androgens, androstenedione (from 0.329 ± 0.07 to 0.097 ± 0.01 ng/ml) and testosterone levels (from 0.045 ± 0.003 to 0.014 ± 0.0009 ng/ml). Ovarian histology showed that visfatin inhibition suppressed cyst formation and promotes corpus luteum formation. Visfatin inhibition has suppressed apoptosis and increases the expression of BCL2 along with increase in the proliferation (GCNA expression elevated). Visfatin inhibition has increased ovarian glucose content (from 167.05 ± 8.5 to 210 ± 7 mg/dl), along with increase in ovarian GLUT8 expression. In vitro study has also supported the in vivo findings where FK866 treatment significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed testosterone (control-3.84 ± 0.44 ng/ml, 1 nM FK866-2.02 ± 0.048 ng/ml, 10 nM FK866-1.74 ± 0.20 ng/ml) and androstenedione (control-4.68 ± 0.91 ng/ml, 1 nM FK866-3.38 ± 0.27 ng/ml, 10 nM FK866-4.55 ± 0.83 ng/ml) production from PCOS ovary. In conclusion, this is first report, which showed that visfatin inhibition by FK866 in hyperandrogenised mice ameliorates pathogenesis of PCOS. Thus, it may be suggested that visfatin inhibition could have a therapeutic potential in PCOS management along with other intervention.

SIRT2 ablation inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion through decreasing glycolytic flux

Rationale: Sirtuins are NAD⁺-dependent protein deacylases known to have protective effects against age-related diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. SIRT2 is the only primarily cytoplasmic isoform and its overall role in glucose homeostasis remains uncertain.

Methods: SIRT2-knockout (KO) rats were constructed to evaluate the role of SIRT2 in glucose homeostasis. The effect of SIRT2 on β-cell function was detected by investigating the morphology, insulin secretion, and metabolomic state of islets. The deacetylation and stabilization of GKRP in β-cells by SIRT2 were determined by western blot, adenoviral infection, and immunoprecipitation.

Results: SIRT2-KO rats exhibited impaired glucose tolerance and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), without change in insulin sensitivity. SIRT2 deficiency or inhibition by AGK2 decreased GSIS in isolated rat islets, with lowered oxygen consumption rate. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of SIRT2 enhanced insulin secretion from rat islets. Metabolomics analysis revealed a decrease in metabolites of glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle in SIRT2-KO islets compared with control islets. Our study further demonstrated that glucokinase regulatory protein (GKRP), an endogenous inhibitor of glucokinase (GCK), was expressed in rat islets. SIRT2 overexpression deacetylated GKRP in INS-1 β-cells. SIRT2 knockout or inhibition elevated GKRP protein stability in islet β-cells, leading to an increase in the interaction of GKRP and GCK. On the contrary, SIRT2 inhibition promoted the protein degradation of ALDOA, a glycolytic enzyme.

Conclusions: SIRT2 ablation inhibits GSIS through blocking GKRP protein degradation and promoting ALDOA protein degradation, resulting in a decrease in glycolytic flux.

Insulin-stimulated endoproteolytic TUG cleavage links energy expenditure with glucose uptake

TUG tethering proteins bind and sequester GLUT4 glucose transporters intracellularly, and insulin stimulates TUG cleavage to translocate GLUT4 to the cell surface and increase glucose uptake. This effect of insulin is independent of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and its physiological relevance remains uncertain. Here we show that this TUG cleavage pathway regulates both insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in muscle and organism-level energy expenditure. Using mice with muscle-specific Tug (Aspscr1)-knockout and muscle-specific constitutive TUG cleavage, we show that, after GLUT4 release, the TUG C-terminal cleavage product enters the nucleus, binds peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ and its coactivator PGC-1α and regulates gene expression to promote lipid oxidation and thermogenesis. This pathway acts in muscle and adipose cells to upregulate sarcolipin and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), respectively. The PPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism, which reduces diabetes risk, enhances TUG binding. The ATE1 arginyltransferase, which mediates a specific protein degradation pathway and controls thermogenesis, regulates the stability of the TUG product. We conclude that insulin-stimulated TUG cleavage coordinates whole-body energy expenditure with glucose uptake, that this mechanism might contribute to the thermic effect of food and that its attenuation could promote obesity.

Resveratrol Affects Insulin Signaling in Type 2 Diabetic Goto-Kakizaki Rats

Resveratrol is a biologically active diphenolic compound exerting multiple beneficial effects in the organism, including anti-diabetic properties. This action is, however, not fully elucidated. In the present study, we examined effects of resveratrol on some parameters related to insulin signaling, and also on diabetes-associated dysregulation in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with congenital type 2 diabetes. Resveratrol was given at the dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. for 10 weeks. It was shown that the expression and phosphorylation levels of insulin receptor in the skeletal muscle of GK rats were significantly decreased, compared with control animals. However, these changes were totally prevented by resveratrol. Liver expression of the insulin receptor was also reduced, but in this case, resveratrol was ineffective. Resveratrol was also demonstrated to significantly influence parameters of insulin binding (dissociation constant and binding capacity) in the skeletal muscle and liver. Moreover, it was shown that the expression levels of proteins related to intracellular glucose transport (GLUT4 and TUG) in adipose tissue of GK rats were significantly decreased. However, treatment with resveratrol completely abolished these changes. Resveratrol was found to induce normalization of TUG expression in the skeletal muscle. Blood levels of insulin and GIP were elevated, whereas proinsulin and GLP-1 diminished in GK rats. However, concentrations of these hormones were not affected by resveratrol. These results indicate that resveratrol partially ameliorates diabetes-associated dysregulation in GK rats. The most relevant finding covers the normalization of the insulin receptor expression in the skeletal muscle and also GLUT4 and TUG in adipose tissue.

Amelioration of insulin resistance using the additive effect of ferulic acid and resveratrol on vesicle trafficking for skeletal muscle glucose metabolism

Dysregulation of vesicle trafficking in muscle is one of the factors responsible for the pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR). Ferulic acid (FER) and resveratrol (RSV) are known to have hypoglycemic property. In this study, differentiated L6 myotubes were induced with palmitate as a model of IR. Chemical ablation of muscle vesicles was used to investigate how FER and RSV influence glucose utilization. Results showed that both FER and RSV elicit glucose uptake and promote glycogen synthesis in insulin-resistant muscle cells. Mechanistic studies further showed that FER markedly enhances the transferrin receptor-containing endosomal compartment activities via phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/atypical protein kinase C-dependent pathway, while RSV facilitates glucose transporter storage vesicles (GSV) trafficking via an exercise-like effect of conventional protein kinase C/5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) modulation. Therefore, these two phenolic compounds promoted glucose transport through two separate routes, and they had an additive effect on the increase of glucose uptake in insulin-resistant muscle cells. These findings provide a basis for the understanding of the antidiabetic potential of RSV and FER combination.

Dichotomous Sirtuins: Implications for Drug Discovery in Neurodegenerative and Cardiometabolic Diseases

Sirtuins (SIRT1-7), a class of NAD⁺-dependent deacylases, are central regulators of metabolic homeostasis and stress responses. While numerous salutary effects associated with sirtuin activation, especially SIRT1, are well documented, other reports show health benefits resulting from sirtuin inhibition. Furthermore, conflicting findings have been obtained regarding the pathophysiological role of specific sirtuin isoforms, suggesting that sirtuins act as 'double-edged swords'. Here, we provide an integrated overview of the different findings on the role of mammalian sirtuins in neurodegenerative and cardiometabolic disorders and attempt to dissect the reasons behind these different effects. Finally, we discuss how addressing these obstacles may provide a better understanding of the complex sirtuin biology and improve the likelihood of identifying effective and selective drug targets for a variety of human disorders.

SIRT2: Controversy and multiple roles in disease and physiology

Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is an NAD+-dependent deacetylase that was under studied compared to other sirtuin family members. SIRT2 is the only sirtuin protein which is predominantly found in the cytoplasm but is also found in the mitochondria and in the nucleus. Recently, accumulating evidence has uncovered a growing number of substrates and additional detailed functions of SIRT2 in a wide range of biological processes, marking its crucial role. Here, we give a comprehensive profile of the crucial physiological functions of SIRT2 and its role in neurological diseases, cancers, and other diseases. This review summarizes the functions of SIRT2 in the nervous system, mitosis regulation, genome integrity, cell differentiation, cell homeostasis, aging, infection, inflammation, oxidative stress, and autophagy. SIRT2 inhibition rescues neurodegenerative disease symptoms and hence SIRT2 is a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disease. SIRT2 is undoubtedly dysfunctional in cancers and plays a dual-faced role in different types of cancers, and although its mechanism is unresolved, SIRT2 remains a promising therapeutic target for certain cancers. In future, the continued rapid growth in SIRT2 research will help clarify its role in human health and disease, and promote the progress of this target in clinical practice.

Vasopressin inactivation: Role of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase

The physiological importance of vasopressin inactivation has long been appreciated, but the mechanisms and potential pathophysiologic roles of this process remain active subjects of research. Human Placental Leucine Aminopeptidase (P-LAP, encoded by the LNPEP gene) is an important determinant of vasopressinase activity during pregnancy and is associated with gestational diabetes insipidus and preeclampsia. Insulin-Regulated Aminopeptidase (IRAP), the rodent homologue of P-LAP, is coregulated with the insulin-responsive glucose transporter, GLUT4, in adipose and muscle cells. Recently, the Tether containing a UBX domain for GLUT4 (TUG) protein was shown to mediate the coordinated regulation of water and glucose homeostasis. TUG sequesters IRAP and GLUT4 intracellularly in the absence of insulin. Insulin and other stimuli cause the proteolytic cleavage of TUG to mobilize these proteins to the cell surface, where IRAP acts to terminate the activity of circulating vasopressin. Intriguingly, genetic variation in LNPEP is associated with the vasopressin response and mortality during sepsis, and increased copeptin, a marker of vasopressin secretion, is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disease. We propose that in the setting of insulin resistance in muscle, increased cell-surface IRAP and accelerated vasopressin degradation cause a compensatory increase in vasopressin secretion. The increased vasopressin concentrations present at the kidneys then contribute to hypertension in the metabolic syndrome. Further analyses of metabolism and of vasopressin and copeptin may yield novel insights into a unified pathophysiologic mechanism linking insulin resistance and hypertension, and potentially other components of the metabolic syndrome, in humans.

GLUT4 Storage Vesicles: Specialized Organelles for Regulated Trafficking

Fat and muscle cells contain a specialized, intracellular organelle known as the GLUT4 storage vesicle (GSV). Insulin stimulation mobilizes GSVs, so that these vesicles fuse at the cell surface and insert GLUT4 glucose transporters into the plasma membrane. This example is likely one instance of a broader paradigm for regulated, non-secretory exocytosis, in which intracellular vesicles are translocated in response to diverse extracellular stimuli. GSVs have been studied extensively, yet these vesicles remain enigmatic. Data support the view that in unstimulated cells, GSVs are present as a pool of preformed small vesicles, which are distinct from endosomes and other membrane-bound organelles. In adipocytes, GSVs contain specific cargoes including GLUT4, IRAP, LRP1, and sortilin. They are formed by membrane budding, involving sortilin and probably CHC22 clathrin in humans, but the donor compartment from which these vesicles form remains uncertain. In unstimulated cells, GSVs are trapped by TUG proteins near the endoplasmic reticulum - Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). Insulin signals through two main pathways to mobilize these vesicles. Signaling by the Akt kinase modulates Rab GTPases to target the GSVs to the cell surface. Signaling by the Rho-family GTPase TC10α stimulates Usp25m-mediated TUG cleavage to liberate the vesicles from the Golgi. Cleavage produces a ubiquitin-like protein modifier, TUGUL, that links the GSVs to KIF5B kinesin motors to promote their movement to the cell surface. In obesity, attenuation of these processes results in insulin resistance and contributes to type 2 diabetes and may simultaneously contribute to hypertension and dyslipidemia in the metabolic syndrome.

Acute inhibition of protein deacetylases does not impact skeletal muscle insulin action

Whether the histone deacetylase (HDAC) and sirtuin families of protein deacetylases regulate insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, independent of their transcriptional effects, has not been studied. Our objective was to determine the nontranscriptional role of HDACs and sirtuins in regulation of skeletal muscle insulin action. Basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and signaling and acetylation were assessed in L6 myotubes and skeletal muscle from C57BL/6J mice that were treated acutely (1 h) with HDAC (trichostatin A, panobinostat, TMP195) and sirtuin inhibitors (nicotinamide). Treatment of L6 myotubes with HDAC inhibitors or skeletal muscle with a combination of HDAC and sirtuin inhibitors increased tubulin and pan-protein acetylation, demonstrating effective impairment of HDAC and sirtuin deacetylase activities. Despite this, neither basal nor insulin-stimulated glucose uptake or insulin signaling was impacted. Acute reduction of the deacetylase activity of HDACs and/or sirtuins does not impact insulin action in skeletal muscle.

Activator of one protease transforms into inhibitor of another in response to nutritional signals

In this study, Yeom et al. address how cells tune protease specificity to nutritional signals. They show that Salmonella enterica increases the specificity of the broadly conserved proteases Lon and ClpSAP by transforming the Lon activator and substrate HspQ into an inhibitor of the N-degron recognin ClpS, the adaptor of the ClpAP protease, thus providing insight into how cells modify the abundance of particular proteins while preserving the quality of their proteomes.

All cells use proteases to adjust protein amounts. Proteases maintain protein homeostasis by degrading nonfunctional toxic proteins and play regulatory roles by targeting particular substrates in response to specific signals. Here we address how cells tune protease specificity to nutritional signals. We report that Salmonella enterica increases the specificity of the broadly conserved proteases Lon and ClpSAP by transforming the Lon activator and substrate HspQ into an inhibitor of the N-degron recognin ClpS, the adaptor of the ClpAP protease. We establish that upon acetylation, HspQ stops being a Lon activator and substrate and that the accumulated HspQ binds to ClpS, hindering degradation of ClpSAP substrates. Growth on glucose promotes HspQ acetylation by increasing acetyl-CoA amounts, thereby linking metabolism to proteolysis. By altering protease specificities but continuing to degrade junk proteins, cells modify the abundance of particular proteins while preserving the quality of their proteomes. This rapid response mechanism linking protease specificity to nutritional signals is broadly conserved.

Acylation - A New Means to Control Traffic Through the Golgi

The Golgi is well known to act as center for modification and sorting of proteins for secretion and delivery to other organelles. A key sorting step occurs at the trans-Golgi network and is mediated by protein adapters. However, recent data indicate that sorting also occurs much earlier, at the cis-Golgi, and uses lipid acylation as a novel means to regulate anterograde flux. Here, we examine an emerging role of S-palmitoylation/acylation as a mechanism to regulate anterograde routing. We discuss the critical Golgi-localized DHHC S-palmitoyltransferase enzymes that orchestrate this lipid modification, as well as their diverse protein clients (e.g., MAP6, SNAP25, CSP, LAT, β-adrenergic receptors, GABA receptors, and GLUT4 glucose transporters). Critically, for integral membrane proteins, S-acylation can act as new a “self-sorting” signal to concentrate these cargoes in rims of Golgi cisternae, and to promote their rapid traffic through the Golgi or, potentially, to bypass the Golgi. We discuss this mechanism and examine its potential relevance to human physiology and disease, including diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.

Germline or inducible knockout of p300 or CBP in skeletal muscle does not alter insulin sensitivity

Akt is a critical mediator of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. The acetyltransferases, E1A binding protein p300 (p300) and cAMP response element-binding protein binding protein (CBP) are phosphorylated and activated by Akt, and p300/CBP can acetylate and inactivate Akt, thus giving rise to a possible Akt-p300/CBP axis. Our objective was to determine the importance of p300 and CBP to skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity. We used Cre-LoxP methodology to generate mice with germline [muscle creatine kinase promoter (P-MCK and C-MCK)] or inducible [tamoxifen-activated, human skeletal actin promoter (P-iHSA and C-iHSA)] knockout of p300 or CBP. A subset of P-MCK and C-MCK mice were switched to a calorie-restriction diet (60% of ad libitum intake) or high-fat diet at 10 wk of age. For P-iHSA and C-iHSA mice, knockout was induced at 10 wk of age. At 13-15 wk of age, we measured whole-body energy expenditure, oral glucose tolerance, and/or ex vivo skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity. Although p300 and CBP protein abundance and mRNA expression were reduced 55%-90% in p300 and CBP knockout mice, there were no genotype differences in energy expenditure or fasting glucose and insulin concentrations. Moreover, neither loss of p300 or CBP impacted oral glucose tolerance or skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity, nor did their loss impact alterations in these parameters in response to a calorie restriction or high-fat diet. Muscle-specific loss of either p300 or CBP, be it germline or in adulthood, does not impact energy expenditure, glucose tolerance, or skeletal muscle insulin action.

Acyl-CoA-Binding Domain-Containing 3 (ACBD3; PAP7; GCP60): A Multi-Functional Membrane Domain Organizer

Acyl-CoA-binding domain-containing 3 (ACBD3) is a multi-functional scaffolding protein, which has been associated with a diverse array of cellular functions, including steroidogenesis, embryogenesis, neurogenesis, Huntington’s disease (HD), membrane trafficking, and viral/bacterial proliferation in infected host cells. In this review, we aim to give a timely overview of recent findings on this protein, including its emerging role in membrane domain organization at the Golgi and the mitochondria. We hope that this review provides readers with useful insights on how ACBD3 may contribute to membrane domain organization along the secretory pathway and on the cytoplasmic surface of intracellular organelles, which influence many important physiological and pathophysiological processes in mammalian cells.

The Regulation of Insulin-Stimulated Cardiac Glucose Transport via Protein Acetylation

Cellular catabolism is the cell capacity to generate energy from various substrates to sustain its function. To optimize this energy production, cells are able to switch between various metabolic pathways in accordance to substrate availability via a modulation of several regulatory enzymes. This metabolic flexibility is essential for the healthy heart, an organ requiring large quantities of ATP to sustain its contractile function. In type 2 diabetes, excess of non-glucidic nutrients such as fatty acids, branched-chain amino-acids, or ketones bodies, induces cardiac metabolic inflexibility. It is characterized by a preferential use of these alternative substrates to the detriment of glucose, this participating in cardiomyocytes dysfunction and development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Identification of the molecular mechanisms leading to this metabolic inflexibility have been scrutinized during last decades. In 1963, Randle demonstrated that accumulation of some metabolites from fatty acid metabolism are able to allosterically inhibit regulatory steps of glucose metabolism leading to a preferential use of fatty acids by the heart. Nevertheless, this model does not fully recapitulate observations made in diabetic patients, calling for a more complex model. A new piece of the puzzle emerges from recent evidences gathered from different laboratories showing that metabolism of the non-glucidic substrates induces an increase in acetylation levels of proteins which is concomitant to the perturbation of glucose transport. The purpose of the present review is to gather, in a synthetic model, the different evidences that demonstrate the role of acetylation in the inhibition of the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in cardiac muscle.

Usp25m protease regulates ubiquitin-like processing of TUG proteins to control GLUT4 glucose transporter translocation in adipocytes

Insulin stimulates the exocytic translocation of specialized vesicles in adipocytes, which inserts GLUT4 glucose transporters into the plasma membrane to enhance glucose uptake. Previous results support a model in which TUG (Tether containing a UBX domain for GLUT4) proteins trap these GLUT4 storage vesicles at the Golgi matrix and in which insulin triggers endoproteolytic cleavage of TUG to translocate GLUT4. Here, we identify the muscle splice form of Usp25 (Usp25m) as a protease required for insulin-stimulated TUG cleavage and GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes. Usp25m is expressed in adipocytes, binds TUG and GLUT4, dissociates from TUG-bound vesicles after insulin addition, and colocalizes with TUG and insulin-responsive cargoes in unstimulated cells. Previous results show that TUG proteolysis generates the ubiquitin-like protein, TUGUL (for TUGubiquitin-like). We now show that TUGUL modifies the kinesin motor protein, KIF5B, and that TUG proteolysis is required to load GLUT4 onto these motors. Insulin stimulates TUG proteolytic processing independently of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. In nonadipocytes, TUG cleavage can be reconstituted by transfection of Usp25m, but not the related Usp25a isoform, together with other proteins present on GLUT4 vesicles. In rodents with diet-induced insulin resistance, TUG proteolysis and Usp25m protein abundance are reduced in adipose tissue. These effects occur soon after dietary manipulation, prior to the attenuation of insulin signaling to Akt. Together with previous data, these results support a model whereby insulin acts through Usp25m to mediate TUG cleavage, which liberates GLUT4 storage vesicles from the Golgi matrix and activates their microtubule-based movement to the plasma membrane. This TUG proteolytic pathway for insulin action is independent of Akt and is impaired by nutritional excess.

The cell biology of systemic insulin function

Tokarz et al. review the cell biology of insulin physiology throughout the body, from synthesis to the delivery, action, and final degradation of insulin.

Insulin is the paramount anabolic hormone, promoting carbon energy deposition in the body. Its synthesis, quality control, delivery, and action are exquisitely regulated by highly orchestrated intracellular mechanisms in different organs or “stations” of its bodily journey. In this Beyond the Cell review, we focus on these five stages of the journey of insulin through the body and the captivating cell biology that underlies the interaction of insulin with each organ. We first analyze insulin’s biosynthesis in and export from the β-cells of the pancreas. Next, we focus on its first pass and partial clearance in the liver with its temporality and periodicity linked to secretion. Continuing the journey, we briefly describe insulin’s action on the blood vasculature and its still-debated mechanisms of exit from the capillary beds. Once in the parenchymal interstitium of muscle and adipose tissue, insulin promotes glucose uptake into myofibers and adipocytes, and we elaborate on the intricate signaling and vesicle traffic mechanisms that underlie this fundamental function. Finally, we touch upon the renal degradation of insulin to end its action. Cellular discernment of insulin’s availability and action should prove critical to understanding its pivotal physiological functions and how their failure leads to diabetes.

Sirtuins as Mediator of the Anti-Ageing Effects of Calorie Restriction in Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle

Fighting diseases and controlling the signs of ageing are the major goals of biomedicine. Sirtuins, enzymes with mainly deacetylating activity, could be pivotal targets of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies to reach such aims. Scientific proofs are accumulating in experimental models, but, to a minor extent, also in humans, that the ancient practice of calorie restriction could prove an effective way to prevent several degenerative diseases and to postpone the detrimental signs of ageing. In the present review, we summarize the evidence about the central role of sirtuins in mediating the beneficial effects of calorie restriction in skeletal and cardiac muscle since these tissues are greatly damaged by diseases and advancing years. Moreover, we entertain the possibility that the identification of sirtuin activators that mimic calorie restriction could provide the benefits without the inconvenience of this dietary style.

Functional genetic variants within the SIRT2 gene promoter in type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a common and complex metabolic diseases caused by interactions between environmental and genetic factors. Genome-wide association studies have identified more than 80 common genetic variants for T2D, which account for only ∼10% of the heritability of T2D cases. SIRT2, a member of NAD(+)-dependent class III deacetylases, is involved in genomic stability, metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress and autophagy. In maintaining metabolic homeostasis, SIRT2 regulates adipocyte differentiation, fatty acid oxidation, gluconeogenesis, and insulin sensitivity. Thus, we hypothesized that DNA sequence variants (DSVs) in SIRT2 gene promoter may change SIRT2 levels, contributing to T2D.

METHODS

SIRT2 gene promoter was genetically and functionally analyzed in large cohorts of T2D patients (n = 365) and ethnic-matched controls (n = 358).

RESULTS

A total of 18 DSVs, including 5 SNPs, were identified in this study. Four novel heterozygous DSVs (g.38900912G > T, g.38900561C > T, g.38900359C > T and g.38900237G > A) were identified in four T2D patients, three of which (g.38900912G > T, g.38900359C > T and g.38900237G > A) significantly increased the transcriptional activity of the SIRT2 gene promoter in cultured pancreatic beta cells (P < .01). Seven novel heterozygous DSVs were only found in controls, and one heterozygous deletion DSV and five SNPs were found in both T2D patients and controls, which did not significantly affect SIRT2 gene promoter activity (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested that the DSVs may increase SIRT2 gene promoter activity and SIRT2 levels, contributing to T2D development as a risk factor.

Distinctive Roles of Sirtuins on Diabetes, Protective or Detrimental?

Dysregulation of metabolic pathways leads to type 2 diabetes, characteristic of high glucose concentration caused by insulin resistance. The histone deacetylases sirtuins exhibit remarkable enzymatic activities. Accumulating evidence indicates that sirtuins can be pharmacologically activated to ameliorate diabetes. Here, we evaluated different roles of sirtuins (SIRT1-SIRT7) in diabetes progression and described their involvement in metabolic pathways of skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and liver. The nuclear sirtuins, SIRT1, SIRT6, and SIRT7, regulate the activity of key transcription factors and cofactors in almost all tissues with the cellular responses to energy demands. The mitochondrial sirtuins, SIRT3, SIRT4, and SIRT5, regulate the activity of mitochondrial enzymes in response to fasting and calorie restriction. Moreover, genetic polymorphisms of SIRT1 and SIRT2 have been reported to associate with diabetes development. It's worth noting that SIRT1, SIRT2, SIRT3, and SIRT6 are positive regulators of insulin resistance in most cases. In the opposite, SIRT4 and SIRT7 inhibit insulin secretion and fatty acid oxidation. Identification of SIRT1 activators for diabetes has gained wide attention, such as metformin, resveratrol, and resveratrol derivatives. Randomized, prospective, and large-scale clinical trials are warrant to uncover the responsibilities of SIRTs modulators on diabetes progress.

Sirtuins and Insulin Resistance

The mammalian Sirtuins (SIRT1-7) are an evolutionarily conserved family of NAD⁺-dependent deacylase and mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase. Sirtuins display distinct subcellular localizations and functions and are involved in cell survival, senescence, metabolism and genome stability. Among the mammalian Sirtuins, SIRT1 and SIRT6 have been thoroughly investigated and have prominent metabolic regulatory roles. Moreover, SIRT1 and SIRT6 have been implicated in obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases. However, the roles of other Sirtuins are not fully understood. Recent studies have shown that these Sirtuins also play important roles in inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and energy metabolism. Insulin resistance is the critical pathological trait of obesity and metabolic syndrome as well as the core defect in T2DM. Accumulating clinical and experimental animal evidence suggests the potential roles of the remaining Sirtuins in the regulation of insulin resistance through diverse biological mechanisms. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the understanding of the functions of Sirtuins in various insulin resistance-associated physiological processes, including inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, the insulin signaling pathway, glucose, and lipid metabolism. In addition, we highlight the important gaps that must be addressed in this field.

Loss of SIRT2 leads to axonal degeneration and locomotor disability associated with redox and energy imbalance

Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is a member of a family of NAD⁺‐dependent histone deacetylases (HDAC) that play diverse roles in cellular metabolism and especially for aging process. SIRT2 is located in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria, is highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), and has been reported to regulate a variety of processes including oxidative stress, genome integrity, and myelination. However, little is known about the role of SIRT2 in the nervous system specifically during aging. Here, we show that middle‐aged, 13‐month‐old mice lacking SIRT2 exhibit locomotor dysfunction due to axonal degeneration, which was not present in young SIRT2 mice. In addition, these Sirt2^−/− mice exhibit mitochondrial depletion resulting in energy failure, and redox dyshomeostasis. Our results provide a novel link between SIRT2 and physiological aging impacting the axonal compartment of the central nervous system, while supporting a major role for SIRT2 in orchestrating its metabolic regulation. This underscores the value of SIRT2 as a therapeutic target in the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases that undergo with axonal degeneration associated with redox and energetic dyshomeostasis.

The Current State of NAD+ -Dependent Histone Deacetylases (Sirtuins) as Novel Therapeutic Targets

Sirtuins are NAD⁺ -dependent protein deacylases that cleave off acetyl, as well as other acyl groups, from the ε-amino group of lysines in histones and other substrate proteins. Seven sirtuin isotypes (Sirt1-7) have been identified in mammalian cells. As sirtuins are involved in the regulation of various physiological processes such as cell survival, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, DNA repair, cell metabolism, and caloric restriction, a dysregulation of their enzymatic activity has been associated with the pathogenesis of neoplastic, metabolic, infectious, and neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, sirtuins are promising targets for pharmaceutical intervention. Growing interest in a modulation of sirtuin activity has prompted the discovery of several small molecules, able to inhibit or activate certain sirtuin isotypes. Herein, we give an update to our previous review on the topic in this journal (Schemies, 2010), focusing on recent developments in sirtuin biology, sirtuin modulators, and their potential as novel therapeutic agents.

Signaling pathways involved in cardiac energy metabolism

Various signaling pathways coordinate energy metabolism and contractile function in the heart. Myocardial uptake of long-chain fatty acids largely occurs by facilitated diffusion, involving the membrane-associated protein, CD36. Glucose uptake, the rate-limiting step in glucose utilization, is mediated predominantly by the glucose transporter protein, GLUT4. Insulin and contraction-mediated AMPK signaling each are implicated in tightly regulating these myocardial 'gate-keepers' of energy balance, that is, CD36 and GLUT4. The insulin and AMPK signaling cascades are complex and their cross-talk is only beginning to be understood. Moreover, transcriptional regulation of the CD36 and GLUT4 is significantly understudied. This review focuses on recent advances on the role of these signaling pathways and transcription factors involved in the regulation of CD36 and GLUT4.

Optogenetic activation reveals distinct roles of PIP3 and Akt in adipocyte insulin action

Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4; also known as SLC2A4) resides on intracellular vesicles in muscle and adipose cells, and translocates to the plasma membrane in response to insulin. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway plays a major role in GLUT4 translocation; however, a challenge has been to unravel the potentially distinct contributions of PI3K and Akt (of which there are three isoforms, Akt1-Akt3) to overall insulin action. Here, we describe new optogenetic tools based on CRY2 and the N-terminus of CIB1 (CIBN). We used these 'Opto' modules to activate PI3K and Akt selectively in time and space in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We validated these tools using biochemical assays and performed live-cell kinetic analyses of IRAP-pHluorin translocation (IRAP is also known as LNPEP and acts as a surrogate marker for GLUT4 here). Strikingly, Opto-PIP3 largely mimicked the maximal effects of insulin stimulation, whereas Opto-Akt only partially triggered translocation. Conversely, drug-mediated inhibition of Akt only partially dampened the translocation response of Opto-PIP3 In spatial optogenetic studies, focal targeting of Akt to a region of the cell marked the sites where IRAP-pHluorin vesicles fused, supporting the idea that local Akt-mediated signaling regulates exocytosis. Taken together, these results indicate that PI3K and Akt play distinct roles, and that PI3K stimulates Akt-independent pathways that are important for GLUT4 translocation.

Sirtuin regulation in aging and injury

Sirtuins or Sir2 family of proteins are a class of NAD(+) dependent protein deacetylases which are evolutionarily conserved from bacteria to humans. Some sirtuins also exhibit mono-ADP ribosyl transferase, demalonylation and desuccinylation activities. Originally identified in the yeast, these proteins regulate key cellular processes like cell cycle, apoptosis, metabolic regulation and inflammation. Humans encode seven sirtuin isoforms SIRT1-SIRT7 with varying intracellular distribution. Apart from their classic role as histone deacetylases regulating transcription, a number of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial targets of sirtuins have also been identified. Sirtuins have been implicated in longevity and accumulating evidence indicate their role in a spectrum of diseases like cancer, diabetes, obesity and neurodegenerative diseases. A number of studies have reported profound changes in SIRT1 expression and activity linked to mitochondrial functional alterations following hypoxic-ischemic conditions and following reoxygenation injury. The SIRT1 mediated deacetylation of targets such as PGC-1α, FOXO3, p53 and NF-κb has profound effect on mitochondrial function, apoptosis and inflammation. These biological processes and functions are critical in life-span determination and outcome following injury. Aging is reported to be characterized by declining SIRT1 activity, and its increased expression or activation demonstrated prolonged life-span in lower forms of animals. A pseudohypoxic state due to declining NAD(+) has also been implicated in aging. In this review we provide an overview of studies on the role of sirtuins in aging and injury.

Coordinated Regulation of Vasopressin Inactivation and Glucose Uptake by Action of TUG Protein in Muscle

In adipose and muscle cells, insulin stimulates the exocytic translocation of vesicles containing GLUT4, a glucose transporter, and insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), a transmembrane aminopeptidase. A substrate of IRAP is vasopressin, which controls water homeostasis. The physiological importance of IRAP translocation to inactivate vasopressin remains uncertain. We previously showed that in skeletal muscle, insulin stimulates proteolytic processing of the GLUT4 retention protein, TUG, to promote GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake. Here we show that TUG proteolysis also controls IRAP targeting and regulates vasopressin action in vivo. Transgenic mice with constitutive TUG proteolysis in muscle consumed much more water than wild-type control mice. The transgenic mice lost more body weight during water restriction, and the abundance of renal AQP2 water channels was reduced, implying that vasopressin activity is decreased. To compensate for accelerated vasopressin degradation, vasopressin secretion was increased, as assessed by the cosecreted protein copeptin. IRAP abundance was increased in T-tubule fractions of fasting transgenic mice, when compared with controls. Recombinant IRAP bound to TUG, and this interaction was mapped to a short peptide in IRAP that was previously shown to be critical for GLUT4 intracellular retention. In cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, IRAP was present in TUG-bound membranes and was released by insulin stimulation. Together with previous results, these data support a model in which TUG controls vesicle translocation by interacting with IRAP as well as GLUT4. Furthermore, the effect of IRAP to reduce vasopressin activity is a physiologically important consequence of vesicle translocation, which is coordinated with the stimulation of glucose uptake.