GLUT4 recycles via a trans-Golgi network (TGN) subdomain enriched in Syntaxins 6 and 16 but not TGN38: involvement of an acidic targeting motif

Phosphorylation of the N-terminus of Syntaxin-16 controls interaction with mVps45 and GLUT4 trafficking in adipocytes

The ability of insulin to stimulate glucose transport in muscle and fat cells is mediated by the regulated delivery of intracellular vesicles containing glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) to the plasma membrane, a process known to be defective in disease such as Type 2 diabetes. In the absence of insulin, GLUT4 is sequestered in tubules and vesicles within the cytosol, collectively known as the GLUT4 storage compartment. A subset of these vesicles, known as the 'insulin responsive vesicles' are selectively delivered to the cell surface in response to insulin. We have previously identified Syntaxin16 (Sx16) and its cognate Sec1/Munc18 protein family member mVps45 as key regulatory proteins involved in the delivery of GLUT4 into insulin responsive vesicles. Here we show that mutation of a key residue within the Sx16 N-terminus involved in mVps45 binding, and the mutation of the Sx16 binding site in mVps45 both perturb GLUT4 sorting, consistent with an important role of the interaction of these two proteins in GLUT4 trafficking. We identify Threonine-7 (T7) as a site of phosphorylation of Sx16 in vitro. Mutation of T7 to D impairs Sx16 binding to mVps45 in vitro and overexpression of T7D significantly impaired insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes. We show that both AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its relative SIK2 phosphorylate this site. Our data suggest that Sx16 T7 is a potentially important regulatory site for GLUT4 trafficking in adipocytes.

ArfGAP3 regulates vesicle transport and glucose uptake in myoblasts

Skeletal muscle injuries are common, and damaged myofibers are repaired through proliferation and differentiation of muscle satellite cells. GLUT4 is enriched in GLUT4 storage vesicles (GSVs) and plays a crucial role in the maintenance of muscle function. ArfGAP3 regulates the vesicle transport especially for COPI coat assembly, but its effects on GSVs and the repair process after skeletal muscle injury remains unclear. In this study, datasets related to skeletal muscle injury and myoblast differentiation GSE469, GSE5413, GSE45577 and GSE108040 were retrieved through the GEO database and the expression of heptameric coat protein complex I (COPI) and Golgi vesicle transport-related genes in various datasets, as well as the expression correlation between ArfGAP2, ArfGAP3 and COPI-related genes COPA, COPB1, COPB2, COPE, COPZ1, COPZ2 were analyzed. The results suggested that ArfGAP3 was expressed in the process of repair after skeletal muscle injury and myoblast differentiation and that ArfGAP3 was positively correlated with COPI-related genes. In vitro experimental results showed that ArfGAP3 was colocalized with COPA, COPB, COPG protein, and GLUT4 in C2C12 myoblasts. After the downregulation of ArfGAP3 expression, intracellular vesicle transport, and glucose uptake were blocked, the proliferation of myoblasts under low glucose culture conditions was impaired, the proportion of apoptosis increased, and myotube differentiation was impaired. In summary, ArfGAP3 regulates COPI-associated vesicle and GSVs transport and affects the proliferation and differentiation ability of myoblasts by influencing glucose uptake, thereby modulating the repair process after skeletal muscle injury.

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.

Pleiotropic effects of Syntaxin16 identified by gene editing in cultured adipocytes

Adipocytes play multiple roles in the regulation of glucose metabolism which rely on the regulation of membrane traffic. These include secretion of adipokines and serving as an energy store. Central to their energy storing function is the ability to increase glucose uptake in response to insulin, mediated through translocation of the facilitative glucose transporter GLUT4 to the cell surface. The trans-Golgi reticulum localized SNARE protein syntaxin 16 (Sx16) has been identified as a key component of the secretory pathway required for insulin-regulated trafficking of GLUT4. We used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate 3T3-L1 adipocytes lacking Sx16 to understand the role of the secretory pathway on adipocyte function. GLUT4 mRNA and protein levels were reduced in Sx16 knockout adipocytes and insulin stimulated GLUT4 translocation to the cell surface was reduced. Strikingly, neither basal nor insulin-stimulated glucose transport were affected. By contrast, GLUT1 levels were upregulated in Sx16 knockout cells. Levels of sortilin and insulin regulated aminopeptidase were also increased in Sx16 knockout adipocytes which may indicate an upregulation of an alternative GLUT4 sorting pathway as a compensatory mechanism for the loss of Sx16. In response to chronic insulin stimulation, Sx16 knockout adipocytes exhibit elevated insulin-independent glucose transport and significant alterations in lactate metabolism. We further show that the adipokine secretory pathways are impaired in Sx16 knockout cells. Together this demonstrates a role for Sx16 in the control of glucose transport, the response to elevated insulin, cellular metabolic profiles and adipocytokine secretion.

Inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis cause Glut4 translocation and increase glucose uptake in adipocytes

Insulin stimulates glucose uptake in adipocytes by triggering translocation of glucose transporter 4-containg vesicles to the plasma membrane. Under basal conditions, these vesicles (IRVs for insulin-responsive vesicles) are retained inside the cell via a “static” or “dynamic” mechanism. We have found that inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis, actinomycin D and emetine, stimulate Glut4 translocation and glucose uptake in adipocytes without engaging conventional signaling proteins, such as Akt, TBC1D4, or TUG. Actinomycin D does not significantly affect endocytosis of Glut4 or recycling of transferrin, suggesting that it specifically increases exocytosis of the IRVs. Thus, the intracellular retention of the IRVs in adipocytes requires continuous RNA and protein biosynthesis de novo. These results point out to the existence of a short-lived inhibitor of IRV translocation thus supporting the “static” model.

Three live-imaging techniques for comprehensively understanding the initial trigger for insulin-responsive intracellular GLUT4 trafficking

Quantitative features of GLUT4 glucose transporter's behavior deep inside cells remain largely unknown. Our previous analyses with live-cell imaging of intracellular GLUT4 trafficking demonstrated two crucial early events responsible for triggering insulin-responsive translocation processes, namely, heterotypic fusion and liberation. To quantify the regulation, interrelationships, and dynamics of the initial events more accurately and comprehensively, we herein applied three analyses, each based on our distinct dual-color live-cell imaging approaches. With these approaches, heterotypic fusion was found to be the first trigger for insulin-responsive GLUT4 redistributions, preceding liberation, and to be critically regulated by Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160) and actin dynamics. In addition, demonstrating the subcellular regional dependence of GLUT4 dynamics revealed that liberated GLUT4 molecules are promptly incorporated into the trafficking itinerary of transferrin receptors. Our approaches highlight the physiological significance of endosomal "GLUT4 molecule trafficking" rather than "GLUT4 vesicle delivery" to the plasma membrane in response to insulin.

Knockout of Syntaxin-4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes reveals new insight into GLUT4 trafficking and adiponectin secretion

Adipocytes are key to metabolic regulation, exhibiting insulin-stimulated glucose transport that is underpinned by the insulin-stimulated delivery of glucose transporter type 4 (SLC2A4, also known and hereafter referred to as GLUT4)-containing vesicles to the plasma membrane where they dock and fuse, and increase cell surface GLUT4 levels. Adipocytokines, such as adiponectin, are secreted via a similar mechanism. We used genome editing to knock out syntaxin-4, a protein reported to mediate fusion between GLUT4-containing vesicles and the plasma membrane in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Syntaxin-4 knockout reduced insulin-stimulated glucose transport and adiponectin secretion by ∼50% and reduced GLUT4 levels. Ectopic expression of haemagglutinin (HA)-tagged GLUT4 conjugated to GFP showed that syntaxin-4-knockout cells retain significant GLUT4 translocation capacity, demonstrating that syntaxin-4 is dispensable for insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. Analysis of recycling kinetics revealed only a modest reduction in the exocytic rate of GLUT4 in knockout cells, and little effect on endocytosis. These analyses demonstrate that syntaxin-4 is not always rate limiting for GLUT4 delivery to the cell surface. In sum, we show that syntaxin-4 knockout results in reduced insulin-stimulated glucose transport, depletion of cellular GLUT4 levels and inhibition of adiponectin secretion but has only modest effects on the translocation capacity of the cells.

This article has an associated First Person interview with Hannah L. Black and Rachel Livingstone, joint first authors of the paper.

Summary: Syntaxin-4 knockout reduces insulin-stimulated glucose transport, depletes levels of cellular GLUT4 and inhibits secretion of adiponectin but only modestly affects the translocation capacity of the cells.

Phospholipase D and retromer promote recycling of TRPL ion channel via the endoplasmic reticulum

Plasma membrane protein trafficking is of fundamental importance for cell function and cell integrity of neurons and includes regulated protein recycling. In this work, we report a novel role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) for protein recycling as discovered in trafficking studies of the ion channel TRPL in photoreceptor cells of Drosophila. TRPL is located within the rhabdomeric membrane from where it is endocytosed upon light stimulation and stored in the cell body. Conventional immunohistochemistry as well as stimulated emission depletion super-resolution microscopy revealed TRPL storage at the ER after illumination, suggesting an unusual recycling route of TRPL. Our results also imply that both phospholipase D (PLD) and retromer complex are required for correct recycling of TRPL to the rhabdomeric membrane. Loss of PLD activity in PLD^3.1 mutants results in enhanced degradation of TRPL. In the retromer mutant vps35^MH20 , TRPL is trapped in a Rab5-positive compartment. Evidenced by epistatic analysis in the double mutant PLD^3.1 vps35^MH20 , PLD activity precedes retromer function. We propose a model in which PLD and retromer function play key roles in the transport of TRPL to an ER enriched compartment.

Insulin-promoted mobilization of GLUT4 from a perinuclear storage site requires RAB10

Insulin controls glucose uptake into muscle and fat cells by inducing a net redistribution of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) from intracellular storage to the plasma membrane (PM). The TBC1D4-RAB10 signaling module is required for insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation to the PM, although where it intersects GLUT4 traffic was unknown. Here we demonstrate that TBC1D4-RAB10 functions to control GLUT4 mobilization from a trans-Golgi network (TGN) storage compartment, establishing that insulin, in addition to regulating the PM proximal effects of GLUT4-containing vesicles docking to and fusion with the PM, also directly regulates the behavior of GLUT4 deeper within the cell. We also show that GLUT4 is retained in an element/domain of the TGN from which newly synthesized lysosomal proteins are targeted to the late endosomes and the ATP7A copper transporter is translocated to the PM by elevated copper. Insulin does not mobilize ATP7A nor does copper mobilize GLUT4, and RAB10 is not required for copper-elicited ATP7A mobilization. Consequently, GLUT4 intracellular sequestration and mobilization by insulin is achieved, in part, through utilizing a region of the TGN devoted to specialized cargo transport in general rather than being specific for GLUT4. Our results define the GLUT4-containing region of the TGN as a sorting and storage site from which different cargo are mobilized by distinct signals through unique molecular machinery.

Phosphoproteomics of Acute Cell Stressors Targeting Exercise Signaling Networks Reveal Drug Interactions Regulating Protein Secretion

Exercise engages signaling networks to control the release of circulating factors beneficial to health. However, the nature of these networks remains undefined. Using high-throughput phosphoproteomics, we quantify 20,249 phosphorylation sites in skeletal muscle-like myotube cells and monitor their responses to a panel of cell stressors targeting aspects of exercise signaling in vivo. Integrating these in-depth phosphoproteomes with the phosphoproteome of acute aerobic exercise in human skeletal muscle suggests that co-administration of β-adrenergic and calcium agonists would activate complementary signaling relevant to this exercise context. The phosphoproteome of cells treated with this combination reveals a surprising divergence in signaling from the individual treatments. Remarkably, only the combination treatment promotes multisite phosphorylation of SERBP1, a regulator of Serpine1 mRNA stability, a pro-fibrotic secreted protein. Secretome analysis reveals that the combined treatments decrease secretion of SERPINE1 and other deleterious factors. This study provides a framework for dissecting phosphorylation-based signaling relevant to acute exercise.

CHC22 clathrin mediates traffic from early secretory compartments for human GLUT4 pathway biogenesis

Blood glucose clearance relies on insulin-stimulated exocytosis of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) from sites of sequestration in muscle and fat. This work demonstrates that, in humans, CHC22 clathrin controls GLUT4 traffic from the ER-to-Golgi intermediate compartment to sites of sequestration during GLUT4 pathway biogenesis.

Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is sequestered inside muscle and fat and then released by vesicle traffic to the cell surface in response to postprandial insulin for blood glucose clearance. Here, we map the biogenesis of this GLUT4 traffic pathway in humans, which involves clathrin isoform CHC22. We observe that GLUT4 transits through the early secretory pathway more slowly than the constitutively secreted GLUT1 transporter and localize CHC22 to the ER-to-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). CHC22 functions in transport from the ERGIC, as demonstrated by an essential role in forming the replication vacuole of Legionella pneumophila bacteria, which requires ERGIC-derived membrane. CHC22 complexes with ERGIC tether p115, GLUT4, and sortilin, and downregulation of either p115 or CHC22, but not GM130 or sortilin, abrogates insulin-responsive GLUT4 release. This indicates that CHC22 traffic initiates human GLUT4 sequestration from the ERGIC and defines a role for CHC22 in addition to retrograde sorting of GLUT4 after endocytic recapture, enhancing pathways for GLUT4 sequestration in humans relative to mice, which lack CHC22.

Regulated resurfacing of a somatostatin receptor storage compartment fine-tunes pituitary secretion

In pituitary cells, internalized somatostatin receptor is held in a GLUT4-like storage compartment. The receptor rapidly resurfaces in response to selective signaling pathways in a process that fine-tunes pituitary hormone release.

The surfacing of the glucose transporter GLUT4 driven by insulin receptor activation provides the prototypic example of a homeostasis response dependent on mobilization of an intracellular storage compartment. Here, we generalize this concept to a G protein–coupled receptor, somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2), in pituitary cells. Following internalization in corticotropes, SSTR2 moves to a juxtanuclear syntaxin-6–positive compartment, where it remains until the corticotropes are stimulated with corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), whereupon SSTR2 exits the compartment on syntaxin-6–positive vesicular/tubular carriers that depend on Rab10 for their fusion with the plasma membrane. As SSTR2 activation antagonizes CRF-mediated hormone release, this storage/resurfacing mechanism may allow for a physiological homeostatic feedback system. In fact, we find that SSTR2 moves from an intracellular compartment to the cell surface in pituitary gland somatotropes, concomitant with increasing levels of serum growth hormone (GH) during natural GH cycles. Our data thus provide a mechanism by which signaling-mediated plasma membrane resurfacing of SSTR2 can fine-tune pituitary hormone release.

Characterisation of GLUT4 trafficking in HeLa cells: comparable kinetics and orthologous trafficking mechanisms to 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Insulin-stimulated glucose transport is a characteristic property of adipocytes and muscle cells and involves the regulated delivery of glucose transporter (GLUT4)-containing vesicles from intracellular stores to the cell surface. Fusion of these vesicles results in increased numbers of GLUT4 molecules at the cell surface. In an attempt to overcome some of the limitations associated with both primary and cultured adipocytes, we expressed an epitope- and GFP-tagged version of GLUT4 (HA–GLUT4–GFP) in HeLa cells. Here we report the characterisation of this system compared to 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We show that insulin promotes translocation of HA–GLUT4–GFP to the surface of both cell types with similar kinetics using orthologous trafficking machinery. While the magnitude of the insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4 is smaller than mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes, HeLa cells offer a useful, experimentally tractable, human model system. Here, we exemplify their utility through a small-scale siRNA screen to identify GOSR1 and YKT6 as potential novel regulators of GLUT4 trafficking in human cells.

BAG6 contributes to glucose uptake by supporting the cell surface translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4

Defective translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) to the cell surface is a key feature of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. Therefore, elucidating the mechanism of GLUT4 translocation is of primary importance. The mammalian Bag6/Bat3 gene has been suggested to be linked with potential obesity- and diabetes-associated loci, while its function in the control of glucose incorporation into the cytoplasm has not been investigated. In this study, we established a series of cell lines that stably expressed GLUT4 with three tandem repeats of the antigenic peptide inserted into its 1st extracellular loop. With these cell lines, we found that the depletion of endogenous BAG6 downregulated the cell surface expression of GLUT4, concomitant with the reduced incorporation of a glucose analog into the cells. Defective intracellular translocation of GLUT4 in BAG6-depleted cells is similar to the case observed for the depletion of Rab8a, an essential regulator of insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. In addition, we observed that the assembly of syntaxin 6 into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane was slightly disturbed under BAG6 depletion. Given that Rab8a and syntaxin 6 are critical for GLUT4 translocation, we suggest that BAG6 may play multiple roles in the trafficking of glucose transporters to the cell surface.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Summary: BAG6 is critical for the insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4 from its peri-nuclear storage compartments to the cell surface.

Syntaxin 16's Newly Deciphered Roles in Autophagy

Syntaxin 16, a Qa-SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor activating protein receptor), is involved in a number of membrane-trafficking activities, particularly transport processes at the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Recent works have now implicated syntaxin 16 in the autophagy process. In fact, syntaxin 16 appears to have dual roles, firstly in facilitating the transport of ATG9a-containing vesicles to growing autophagosomes, and secondly in autolysosome formation. The former involves a putative SNARE complex between syntaxin 16, VAMP7 and SNAP-47. The latter occurs via syntaxin 16’s recruitment by Atg8/LC3/GABARAP family proteins to autophagosomes and endo-lysosomes, where syntaxin 16 may act in a manner that bears functional redundancy with the canonical autophagosome Qa-SNARE syntaxin 17. Here, I discuss these recent findings and speculate on the mechanistic aspects of syntaxin 16’s newly found role in autophagy.

Tales of tails in transporters

Cell nutrition, detoxification, signalling, homeostasis and response to drugs, processes related to cell growth, differentiation and survival are all mediated by plasma membrane (PM) proteins called transporters. Despite their distinct fine structures, mechanism of function, energetic requirements, kinetics and substrate specificities, all transporters are characterized by a main hydrophobic body embedded in the PM as a series of tightly packed, often intertwined, α-helices that traverse the lipid bilayer in a zigzag mode, connected with intracellular or extracellular loops and hydrophilic N- and C-termini. Whereas longstanding genetic, biochemical and biophysical evidence suggests that specific transmembrane segments, and also their connecting loops, are responsible for substrate recognition and transport dynamics, emerging evidence also reveals the functional importance of transporter N- and C-termini, in respect to transport catalysis, substrate specificity, subcellular expression, stability and signalling. This review highlights selected prototypic examples of transporters in which their termini play important roles in their functioning.

Thirty sweet years of GLUT4

A pivotal metabolic function of insulin is the stimulation of glucose uptake into muscle and adipose tissues. The discovery of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) protein in 1988 inspired its molecular cloning in the following year. It also spurred numerous cellular mechanistic studies laying the foundations for how insulin regulates glucose uptake by muscle and fat cells. Here, we reflect on the importance of the GLUT4 discovery and chronicle additional key findings made in the past 30 years. That exocytosis of a multispanning membrane protein regulates cellular glucose transport illuminated a novel adaptation of the secretory pathway, which is to transiently modulate the protein composition of the cellular plasma membrane. GLUT4 controls glucose transport into fat and muscle tissues in response to insulin and also into muscle during exercise. Thus, investigation of regulated GLUT4 trafficking provides a major means by which to map the essential signaling components that transmit the effects of insulin and exercise. Manipulation of the expression of GLUT4 or GLUT4-regulating molecules in mice has revealed the impact of glucose uptake on whole-body metabolism. Remaining gaps in our understanding of GLUT4 function and regulation are highlighted here, along with opportunities for future discoveries and for the development of therapeutic approaches to manage metabolic disease.

Insulin-responsive amino peptidase follows the Glut4 pathway but is dispensable for the formation and translocation of insulin-responsive vesicles

In fat and skeletal muscle cells, insulin-responsive amino peptidase (IRAP) along with glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) and sortilin, represents a major component protein of the insulin-responsive vesicles (IRVs). Here, we show that IRAP, similar to Glut4 and sortilin, is retrieved from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network by retromer. Unlike Glut4, retrograde transport of IRAP does not require sortilin, as retromer can directly bind to the cytoplasmic tail of IRAP. Ablation of IRAP in 3T3-L1 adipocytes shifts the endosomal pool of Glut4 to more acidic endosomes, but does not affect IRV targeting, stability, and insulin responsiveness of Glut4.

Endosomal and Phagosomal SNAREs

The soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein family is of vital importance for organelle communication. The complexing of cognate SNARE members present in both the donor and target organellar membranes drives the membrane fusion required for intracellular transport. In the endocytic route, SNARE proteins mediate trafficking between endosomes and phagosomes with other endosomes, lysosomes, the Golgi apparatus, the plasma membrane, and the endoplasmic reticulum. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the SNAREs involved in endosomal and phagosomal trafficking. Of the 38 SNAREs present in humans, 30 have been identified at endosomes and/or phagosomes. Many of these SNAREs are targeted by viruses and intracellular pathogens, which thereby reroute intracellular transport for gaining access to nutrients, preventing their degradation, and avoiding their detection by the immune system. A fascinating picture is emerging of a complex transport network with multiple SNAREs being involved in consecutive trafficking routes.

Autophagy and GLUT4: The missing pieces

BACKGROUND

Autophagy is a process devoted to degrade and recycle cellular components inside mammalian cells through lysosomal system. It plays a main function in the pathophysiology of several diseases. In type 2 diabetes, works demonstrated the dual functions of autophagy in diabetes biology. Studies had approved the role of autophagy in promoting different routes for movement of integral membrane proteins to the plasma membrane. But its role in regulation of GLUT4 trafficking has not been widely observed. In normal conditions, insulin promotes GLUT4 translocation from intracellular membrane compartments to the plasma membrane, while in type 2 diabetes defects occur in this translocation.

METHOD

Intriguing evidences discussed the contribution of different intracellular compartments in autophagy membrane formation. Furthermore, autophagy serves to mobilise membranes within cells, thereby promoting cytoplasmic components reorganisation. The intent of this review is to focus on the possibility of autophagy to act as a carrier for GLUT4 through regulating GLUT4 endocytosis, intracellular trafficking in different compartments, and translocation to cell membrane.

RESULTS

The common themes of autophagy and GLUT4 have been highlighted. The review discussed the overlapping of endocytosis mechanism and intracellular compartments, and has shown that autophagy and GLUT4 utilise similar proteins (SNAREs) which are used for exocytosis. On top of that, PI3K and AMPK also control both autophagy and GLUT4.

CONCLUSION

The control of GLUT4 trafficking through autophagy could be a promising field for treating type 2 diabetes.

Tankyrase modulates insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle cells by regulating the stability of GLUT4 vesicle proteins

Tankyrase 1 and 2, members of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase family, have previously been shown to play a role in insulin-mediated glucose uptake in adipocytes. However, their precise mechanism of action, and their role in insulin action in other cell types, such as myocytes, remains elusive. Treatment of differentiated L6 myotubes with the small molecule tankyrase inhibitor XAV939 resulted in insulin resistance as determined by impaired insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Proteomic analysis of XAV939-treated myotubes identified down-regulation of several glucose transporter GLUT4 storage vesicle (GSV) proteins including RAB10, VAMP8, SORT1, and GLUT4. A similar effect was observed following knockdown of tankyrase 1 in L6 myotubes. Inhibition of the proteasome using MG132 rescued GSV protein levels as well as insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in XAV939-treated L6 myotubes. These studies reveal an important role for tankyrase in maintaining the stability of key GLUT4 regulatory proteins that in turn plays a role in regulating cellular insulin sensitivity.

Glucose Transport: Methods for Interrogating GLUT4 Trafficking in Adipocytes

In this chapter we detail methods for the systematic dissection of GLUT4 trafficking. The methods described have been optimized for cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, but can be readily adapted to other cell types.

Adenovirus Protein E4-ORF1 Activation of PI3 Kinase Reveals Differential Regulation of Downstream Effector Pathways in Adipocytes

Insulin activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) regulates metabolism, including the translocation of the Glut4 glucose transporter to the plasma membrane and inactivation of the FoxO1 transcription factor. Adenoviral protein E4-ORF1 stimulates cellular glucose metabolism by mimicking growth-factor activation of PI3K. We have used E4-ORF1 as a tool to dissect PI3K-mediated signaling in adipocytes. E4-ORF1 activation of PI3K in adipocytes recapitulates insulin regulation of FoxO1 but not regulation of Glut4. This uncoupling of PI3K effects occurs despite E4-ORF1 activating PI3K and downstream signaling to levels achieved by insulin. Although E4-ORF1 does not fully recapitulate insulin's effects on Glut4, it enhances insulin-stimulated insertion of Glut4-containing vesicles to the plasma membrane independent of Rab10, a key regulator of Glut4 trafficking. E4-ORF1 also stimulates plasma membrane translocation of ubiquitously expressed Glut1 glucose transporter, an effect that is likely essential for E4-ORF1 to promote an anabolic metabolism in a broad range of cell types.

The role of CXCR3/LRP1 cross-talk in the invasion of primary brain tumors

CXCR3 plays important roles in angiogenesis, inflammation, and cancer. However, the precise mechanism of regulation and activity in tumors is not well known. We focused on CXCR3-A conformation and on the mechanisms controlling its activity and trafficking and investigated the role of CXCR3/LRP1 cross talk in tumor cell invasion. Here we report that agonist stimulation induces an anisotropic response with conformational changes of CXCR3-A along its longitudinal axis. CXCR3-A is internalized via clathrin-coated vesicles and recycled by retrograde trafficking. We demonstrate that CXCR3-A interacts with LRP1. Silencing of LRP1 leads to an increase in the magnitude of ligand-induced conformational change with CXCR3-A focalized at the cell membrane, leading to a sustained receptor activity and an increase in tumor cell migration. This was validated in patient-derived glioma cells and patient samples. Our study defines LRP1 as a regulator of CXCR3, which may have important consequences for tumor biology.

SNARE phosphorylation: a control mechanism for insulin-stimulated glucose transport and other regulated exocytic events

Trafficking within eukaryotic cells is a complex and highly regulated process; events such as recycling of plasma membrane receptors, formation of multivesicular bodies, regulated release of hormones and delivery of proteins to membranes all require directionality and specificity. The underpinning processes, including cargo selection, membrane fusion, trafficking flow and timing, are controlled by a variety of molecular mechanisms and engage multiple families of lipids and proteins. Here, we will focus on control of trafficking processes via the action of the SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) family of proteins, in particular their regulation by phosphorylation. We will describe how these proteins are controlled in a range of regulated trafficking events, with particular emphasis on the insulin-stimulated delivery of glucose transporters to the surface of adipose and muscle cells. Here, we focus on a few examples of SNARE phosphorylation which exemplify distinct ways in which SNARE machinery phosphorylation may regulate membrane fusion.

Heterotypic endosomal fusion as an initial trigger for insulin-induced glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation in skeletal muscle

KEY POINTS

Comprehensive imaging analyses of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) behaviour in mouse skeletal muscle was conducted. Quantum dot-based single molecule nanometry revealed that GLUT4 molecules in skeletal myofibres are governed by regulatory systems involving 'static retention' and 'stimulus-dependent liberation'. Vital imaging analyses and super-resolution microscopy-based morphometry demonstrated that insulin liberates the GLUT4 molecule from its static state by triggering acute heterotypic endomembrane fusion arising from the very small GLUT4-containing vesicles in skeletal myofibres. Prior exposure to exercise-mimetic stimuli potentiated this insulin-responsive endomembrane fusion event involving GLUT4-containing vesicles, suggesting that this endomembranous regulation process is a potential site related to the effects of exercise.

ABSTRACT

Skeletal muscle is the major systemic glucose disposal site. Both insulin and exercise facilitate translocation of the glucose transporter glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) via distinct signalling pathways and exercise also enhances insulin sensitivity. However, the trafficking mechanisms controlling GLUT4 mobilization in skeletal muscle remain poorly understood as a resuly of technical limitations. In the present study, which employs various imaging techniques on isolated skeletal myofibres, we show that one of the initial triggers of insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation is heterotypic endomembrane fusion arising from very small static GLUT4-containing vesicles with a subset of transferrin receptor-containing endosomes. Importantly, pretreatment with exercise-mimetic stimuli potentiated the susceptibility to insulin responsiveness, as indicated by these acute endomembranous activities. We also found that AS160 exhibited stripe-like localization close to sarcomeric α-actinin and that insulin induced a reduction of the stripe-like localization accompanying changes in its detergent solubility. The results of the present study thus provide a conceptual framework indicating that GLUT4 protein trafficking via heterotypic fusion is a critical feature of GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscles and also suggest that the efficacy of the endomembranous fusion process in response to insulin is involved in the benefits of exercise.

Sortilin and retromer mediate retrograde transport of Glut4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Sortilin is a multiligand sorting receptor responsible for the anterograde transport of lysosomal enzymes and substrates. Here we demonstrate that sortilin is also involved in retrograde protein traffic. In cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, sortilin together with retromer rescues Glut4 from degradation in lysosomes and retrieves it to the TGN, where insulin--responsive vesicles are formed. Mechanistically, the luminal Vps10p domain of sortilin interacts with the first luminal loop of Glut4, and the cytoplasmic tail of sortilin binds to retromer. Ablation of the retromer does not affect insulin signaling but decreases the stability of sortilin and Glut4 and blocks their entry into the small vesicular carriers. As a result, Glut4 cannot reach the insulin-responsive compartment, and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes is suppressed. We suggest that sortilin- and retromer-mediated Glut4 retrieval from endosomes may represent a step in the Glut4 pathway vulnerable to the development of insulin resistance and diabetes.

The amino acid transporter, SLC1A3, is plasma membrane-localised in adipocytes and its activity is insensitive to insulin

The hormone insulin coordinates the catabolism of nutrients by protein phosphorylation. Phosphoproteomic analysis identified insulin-responsive phosphorylation of the Glu/Asp transporter SLC1A3/EAAT1 in adipocytes. The role of SLC1A3 in adipocytes is not well-understood. We show that SLC1A3 is localised to the plasma membrane and the major regulator of acidic amino acid uptake in adipocytes. However, its localisation and activity were unaffected by insulin or mutation of the insulin-regulated phosphosite. The latter was also observed using a heterologous expression system in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Thus, SLC1A3 maintains a constant import of acidic amino acids independently of nutritional status in adipocytes.

SEC16A is a RAB10 effector required for insulin-stimulated GLUT4 trafficking in adipocytes

Sec16A is known to be required for COPII vesicle formation from the ER. Here, Bruno et al. show that, independent of its role at the ER, Sec16A is a RAB10 effector involved in the insulin-stimulated formation of specialized transport vesicles that ferry the GLUT4 glucose transporter to the plasma membrane of adipocytes.

RAB10 is a regulator of insulin-stimulated translocation of the GLUT4 glucose transporter to the plasma membrane (PM) of adipocytes, which is essential for whole-body glucose homeostasis. We establish SEC16A as a novel RAB10 effector in this process. Colocalization of SEC16A with RAB10 is augmented by insulin stimulation, and SEC16A knockdown attenuates insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation, phenocopying RAB10 knockdown. We show that SEC16A and RAB10 promote insulin-stimulated mobilization of GLUT4 from a perinuclear recycling endosome/TGN compartment. We propose RAB10–SEC16A functions to accelerate formation of the vesicles that ferry GLUT4 to the PM during insulin stimulation. Because GLUT4 continually cycles between the PM and intracellular compartments, the maintenance of elevated cell-surface GLUT4 in the presence of insulin requires accelerated biogenesis of the specialized GLUT4 transport vesicles. The function of SEC16A in GLUT4 trafficking is independent of its previously characterized activity in ER exit site formation and therefore independent of canonical COPII-coated vesicle function. However, our data support a role for SEC23A, but not the other COPII components SEC13, SEC23B, and SEC31, in the insulin stimulation of GLUT4 trafficking, suggesting that vesicles derived from subcomplexes of COPII coat proteins have a role in the specialized trafficking of GLUT4.

Endomembrane-associated RSD-3 is important for RNAi induced by extracellular silencing RNA in both somatic and germ cells of Caenorhabditis elegans

RNA silencing signals in C. elegans spread among cells, leading to RNAi throughout the body. During systemic spread of RNAi, membrane trafficking is thought to play important roles. Here, we show that RNAi Spreading Defective-3 (rsd-3), which encodes a homolog of epsinR, a conserved ENTH (epsin N-terminal homology) domain protein, generally participates in cellular uptake of silencing RNA. RSD-3 is previously thought to be involved in systemic RNAi only in germ cells, but we isolated several deletion alleles of rsd-3, and found that these mutants are defective in the spread of silencing RNA not only into germ cells but also into somatic cells. RSD-3 is ubiquitously expressed, and intracellularly localized to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and endosomes. Tissue-specific rescue experiments indicate that RSD-3 is required for importing silencing RNA into cells rather than exporting from cells. Structure/function analysis showed that the ENTH domain alone is sufficient, and membrane association of the ENTH domain is required, for RSD-3 function in systemic RNAi. Our results suggest that endomembrane trafficking through the TGN and endosomes generally plays an important role in cellular uptake of silencing RNA.

Prolonged exposure to insulin with insufficient glucose leads to impaired Glut4 translocation

Insulin maintains glucose homeostasis by stimulating glucose uptake from extracellular environment to adipose and muscle tissue through glucose transporter (GLUT4). Insulin resistance plays a significant role in pathologies associated with type2 diabetes. It has been previously shown that hyperinsulinemia can lead to insulin resistance. In these studies very high levels of insulin was used to achieve insulin resistance. We hypothesized that one of the causes of type 2 diabetes could be insulin synthesis in the absence of glucose stimulation. We used CHO cell line, stably expressing Myc-GLUT4-GFP along with human insulin receptor to study the effect of hyperinsulinemia in the presence of low glucose (6.5 mM) or high glucose (20 mM). The insulin responsiveness of these cells was assessed by FRAP, FACS and subcellular fractionation. The results suggest that exposure of cells to insulin in low glucose conditions made these cells insulin resistant within 10 passages, while the same level of insulin in the presence of high glucose did not result in insulin resistance. These results clearly suggest that hyperinsulinemia combined with hypoglycaemia may lead to insulin resistance and may be one of the causes for the typ2 diabetes.

The first intracellular loop of GLUT4 contains a retention motif

Glucose transporter GLUT4 plays a major role in glucose homeostasis and is efficiently retained intracellularly in adipocytes and myocytes. To simplify the analysis of its retention, various intracellular GLUT4 domains were fused individually to reporter molecules. Of the four short cytoplasmic loops of GLUT4, only the first nine-residue-long loop conferred intracellular retention of truncated forms of the transferrin receptor and CD4 in adipocytes. In contrast, the same loop of GLUT1 was without effect. The reporter molecules to which the first loop of GLUT4 was fused localized, unlike GLUT4, to the TGN, possibly explaining why these molecules did not respond to insulin. The retention induced by the GLUT4 loop was specific to adipocytes as it did not induce retention in preadipocytes. Of the SQWLGRKRA sequence that constitutes this loop, mutation of either the tryptophan or lysine residue abrogated reporter retention. Mutation of these residues individually into alanines in the full-length GLUT4 molecule resulted in a decreased retention for GLUT4-W105A. We conclude that the first intracellular loop of GLUT4 contains retention motif WLGRK, in which Trp105 plays a prominent role.

Functional characterization of retromer in GLUT4 storage vesicle formation and adipocyte differentiation

Insulin-stimulated translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) storage vesicles (GSVs), the specialized intracellular compartments within mature adipocytes, to the plasma membrane (PM) is a fundamental cellular process for maintaining glucose homeostasis. Using 2 independent adipocyte cell line models, human primary Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome and mouse 3T3-L1 fibroblast cell lines, we demonstrate that the endosome-associated protein-sorting complex retromer colocalizes with GLUT4 on the GSVs by confocal microscopy in mature adipocytes. By use of both confocal microscopy and differential ultracentrifugation techniques, retromer is redistributed to the PM of mature adipocytes upon insulin stimulation. Furthermore, stable knockdown of the retromer subunit-vacuolar protein-sorting 35, or the retromer-associated protein sorting nexin 27, by lentivirus-delivered small hairpin RNA impaired the adipogenesis process when compared to nonsilence control. The knockdown of retromer decreased peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ expression during differentiation, generating adipocytes with decreased levels of GSVs, lipid droplet accumulation, and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. In conclusion, our study demonstrates a role for retromer in the GSV formation and adipogenesis.

TUSC5 regulates insulin-mediated adipose tissue glucose uptake by modulation of GLUT4 recycling

Objective

Failure to properly dispose of glucose in response to insulin is a serious health problem, occurring during obesity and is associated with type 2 diabetes development. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is facilitated by the translocation and plasma membrane fusion of vesicles containing glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), the rate-limiting step of post-prandial glucose disposal.

Methods

We analyzed the role of Tusc5 in the regulation of insulin-stimulated Glut4-mediated glucose uptake in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we measured Tusc5 expression in two patient cohorts.

Results

Herein, we report that TUSC5 controls insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes, in vitro and in vivo. TUSC5 facilitates the proper recycling of GLUT4 and other key trafficking proteins during prolonged insulin stimulation, thereby enabling proper protein localization and complete vesicle formation, processes that ultimately enable insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Tusc5 knockout mice exhibit impaired glucose disposal and TUSC5 expression is predictive of glucose tolerance in obese individuals, independent of body weight. Furthermore, we show that TUSC5 is a PPARγ target and in its absence the anti-diabetic effects of TZDs are significantly blunted.

Conclusions

Collectively, these findings establish TUSC5 as an adipose tissue-specific protein that enables proper protein recycling, linking the ubiquitous vesicle traffic machinery with tissue-specific insulin-mediated glucose uptake into adipose tissue and the maintenance of a healthy metabolic phenotype in mice and humans.

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Tusc5 regulates glucose uptake in adipose tissue by modulating the GSV recycling machinery.

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Tusc5 knockout mice develop insulin resistance due to impaired adipose tissue glucose uptake.

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Rosiglitazone improves glucose homeostasis in part through the induction of Tusc5.

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Tusc5 is a novel adipose specific adaptor protein linking Glut4 trafficking to the ubiquitous machinery.

Retromer-Mediated Trafficking of Transmembrane Receptors and Transporters

Transport between the endoplasmatic reticulum, the Golgi-network, the endo-lysosomal system and the cell surface can be categorized as anterograde or retrograde, describing traffic that goes forward or backward, respectively. Traffic going from the plasma membrane to endosomes and lysosomes or the trans-Golgi network (TGN) constitutes the major retrograde transport routes. Several transmembrane proteins undergo retrograde transport as part of a recycling mechanism that contributes to reutilization and maintenance of a steady-state protein localization. In addition, some receptors are hijacked by exotoxins and used for entry and intracellular transport. The physiological relevance of retrograde transport cannot be overstated. Retrograde trafficking of the amyloid precursor protein determines the distribution between organelles, and hence the possibility of cleavage by γ-secretase. Right balancing of the pathways is critical for protection against Alzheimer’s disease. During embryonic development, retrograde transport of Wntless to the TGN is essential for the following release of Wnt from the plasma membrane. Furthermore, overexpression of Wntless has been linked to oncogenesis. Here, we review relevant aspects of the retrograde trafficking of mammalian transmembrane receptors and transporters, with focus on the retromer-mediated transport between endosomes and the TGN.

Exogenous β-amyloid peptide interferes with GLUT4 localization in neurons

Aging represents a major risk factor for numerous illnesses that are of increasing importance to society, including two of the most prevalent: diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that diabetes is a risk factor for spontaneous Alzheimer's disease. While these studies suggest that diabetes can contribute to Alzheimer's disease, the implications of AD on diabetes are practically unexplored. The major mediator of the pathophysiological effects, the Aβ42 peptide, has been shown to enter neurons and lead to an alteration of the intracellular distribution of the molecular motor myosin Vb. Myosin Vb functions in memory and learning by participating in the strengthening of the long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmissions. It has also been implicated in the translocation of the glucose transporter, GLUT4, to the plasma membrane in response to insulin, a process that is defective in diabetes. Here, the effect on GLUT4 upon entry of the Aβ42 peptide into cultured chick retinal neurons was explored. The results suggest an alteration in distribution and a reduced level at the cell surface, as well as an increased colocalization with myosin Vb, which can partially explain the changes in glucose metabolism associated with AD. It is also shown that the presence of the Aβ40 peptide inhibits the internalization of the Aβ42 peptide in cultured cells. Together, the results provide additional targets for the development of therapeutics against the progression and effects of Alzheimer's disease.

Selective insulin resistance in adipocytes

Aside from glucose metabolism, insulin regulates a variety of pathways in peripheral tissues. Under insulin-resistant conditions, it is well known that insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is impaired, and many studies attribute this to a defect in Akt signaling. Here we make use of several insulin resistance models, including insulin-resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes and fat explants prepared from high fat-fed C57BL/6J and ob/ob mice, to comprehensively distinguish defective from unaffected aspects of insulin signaling and its downstream consequences in adipocytes. Defective regulation of glucose uptake was observed in all models of insulin resistance, whereas other major actions of insulin such as protein synthesis and anti-lipolysis were normal. This defect corresponded to a reduction in the maximum response to insulin. The pattern of change observed for phosphorylation in the Akt pathway was inconsistent with a simple defect at the level of Akt. The only Akt substrate that showed consistently reduced phosphorylation was the RabGAP AS160 that regulates GLUT4 translocation. We conclude that insulin resistance in adipose tissue is highly selective for glucose metabolism and likely involves a defect in one of the components regulating GLUT4 translocation to the cell surface in response to insulin.

Characterization of VAMP isoforms in 3T3-L1 adipocytes: implications for GLUT4 trafficking

The levels of expression, distribution, and association of all of the VAMPs expressed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes are characterized. This is the first systematic analysis of all members of this protein family for any cell type.

The fusion of GLUT4-containing vesicles with the plasma membrane of adipocytes is a key facet of insulin action. This process is mediated by the formation of functional soluble N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes between the plasma membrane t-SNARE complex and the vesicle v-SNARE or VAMP. The t-SNARE complex consists of Syntaxin4 and SNAP23, and whereas many studies identify VAMP2 as the v-SNARE, others suggest that either VAMP3 or VAMP8 may also fulfil this role. Here we characterized the levels of expression, distribution, and association of all the VAMPs expressed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes to provide the first systematic analysis of all members of this protein family for any cell type. Despite our finding that all VAMP isoforms form SDS-resistant SNARE complexes with Syntaxin4/SNAP23 in vitro, a combination of levels of expression (which vary by >30-fold), subcellular distribution, and coimmunoprecipitation analyses lead us to propose that VAMP2 is the major v-SNARE involved in GLUT4 trafficking to the surface of 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

The BAR domain protein PICK1 controls vesicle number and size in adrenal chromaffin cells

Protein Interacting with C Kinase 1 (PICK1) is a Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domain protein involved in AMPA receptor trafficking. Here, we identify a selective role for PICK1 in the biogenesis of large, dense core vesicles (LDCVs) in mouse chromaffin cells. PICK1 colocalized with syntaxin-6, a marker for immature granules. In chromaffin cells isolated from a PICK1 knockout (KO) mouse the amount of exocytosis was reduced, while release kinetics and Ca(2+) sensitivity were unaffected. Vesicle-fusion events had a reduced frequency and released lower amounts of transmitter per vesicle (i.e., reduced quantal size). This was paralleled by a reduction in the mean single-vesicle capacitance, estimated by averaging time-locked capacitance traces. EM confirmed that LDCVs were fewer and of markedly reduced size in the PICK1 KO, demonstrating that all phenotypes can be explained by reductions in vesicle number and size, whereas the fusion competence of generated vesicles was unaffected by the absence of PICK1. Viral rescue experiments demonstrated that long-term re-expression of PICK1 is necessary to restore normal vesicular content and secretion, while short-term overexpression is ineffective, consistent with an upstream role for PICK1. Disrupting lipid binding of the BAR domain (2K-E mutation) or of the PDZ domain (CC-GG mutation) was sufficient to reproduce the secretion phenotype of the null mutant. The same mutations are known to eliminate PICK1 function in receptor trafficking, indicating that the multiple functions of PICK1 involve a conserved mechanism. Summarized, our findings demonstrate that PICK1 functions in vesicle biogenesis and is necessary to maintain normal vesicle numbers and size.

Grb10 deletion enhances muscle cell proliferation, differentiation and GLUT4 plasma membrane translocation

Grb10 is an intracellular adaptor protein which binds directly to several growth factor receptors, including those for insulin and insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 (IGF-1), and negatively regulates their actions. Grb10-ablated (Grb10(-/-) ) mice exhibit improved whole body glucose homeostasis and an increase in muscle mass associated specifically with an increase in myofiber number. This suggests that Grb10 may act as a negative regulator of myogenesis. In this study, we investigated in vitro, the molecular mechanisms underlying the increase in muscle mass and the improved glucose metabolism. Primary muscle cells isolated from Grb10(-/-) mice exhibited increased rates of proliferation and differentiation compared to primary cells isolated from wild-type mice. The improved proliferation capacity was associated with an enhanced phosphorylation of Akt and ERK in the basal state and changes in the expression of key cell cycle progression markers involved in regulating transition of cells from the G1 to S phase (e.g., retinoblastoma (Rb) and p21). The absence of Grb10 also promoted a faster transition to a myogenin positive, differentiated state. Glucose uptake was higher in Grb10(-/-) primary myotubes in the basal state and was associated with enhanced insulin signaling and an increase in GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane. These data demonstrate an important role for Grb10 as a link between muscle growth and metabolism with therapeutic implications for diseases, such as muscle wasting and type 2 diabetes.

Rab5 activity regulates GLUT4 sorting into insulin-responsive and non-insulin-responsive endosomal compartments: a potential mechanism for development of insulin resistance

Glucose transporter isoform 4 (GLUT4) is the insulin-responsive glucose transporter mediating glucose uptake in adipose and skeletal muscle. Reduced GLUT4 translocation from intracellular storage compartments to the plasma membrane is a cause of peripheral insulin resistance. Using a chronic hyperinsulinemia (CHI)-induced cell model of insulin resistance and Rab5 mutant overexpression, we determined these manipulations altered endosomal sorting of GLUT4, thus contributing to the development of insulin resistance. We found that CHI induced insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by retaining GLUT4 in a Rab5-activity-dependent compartment that is unable to equilibrate with the cell surface in response to insulin. Furthermore, CHI-mediated retention of GLUT4 in this non-insulin-responsive compartment impaired filling of the transferrin receptor (TfR)-positive and TfR-negative insulin-responsive storage compartments. Our data suggest that hyperinsulinemia may inhibit GLUT4 by chronically maintaining GLUT4 in the Rab5 activity-dependent endosomal pathway and impairing formation of the TfR-negative and TfR-positive insulin-responsive GLUT4 pools. This model suggests that an early event in the development of insulin-resistant glucose transport in adipose tissue is to alter the intracellular localization of GLUT4 to a compartment that does not efficiently equilibrate with the cell surface when insulin levels are elevated for prolonged periods of time.

ISL1 regulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ activation and early adipogenesis via bone morphogenetic protein 4-dependent and -independent mechanisms

While adipogenesis is controlled by a cascade of transcription factors, the global gene expression profiles in the early phase of adipogenesis are not well defined. Using microarray analysis of gene expression in 3T3-L1 cells, we have identified evidence for the activity of 2,568 genes during the early phase of adipocyte differentiation. One of these, the ISL1 gene, was of interest since its expression was markedly upregulated 1 h after initiation of differentiation, with a subsequent rapid decline. Overexpression of ISL1 at early times during adipocyte differentiation but not at later times was found to profoundly inhibit differentiation. This was accompanied by moderate downregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) levels, substantial downregulation of PPARγ downstream genes, and downregulation of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) levels in preadipocytes. Readdition of BMP4 overcame the inhibitory effect of ISL1 on the expression of PPARγ but not aP2, a gene downstream of PPARγ, and BMP4 also partially rescued ISL1 inhibition of adipogenesis, an effect which is additive with rosiglitazone. These results suggest that ISL1 is intimately involved in early regulation of adipogenesis, modulating PPARγ expression and activity via BMP4-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Our time course gene expression survey sets the stage for further studies to explore other early and immediate regulators.

The SNARE protein vti1a functions in dense-core vesicle biogenesis

The SNARE protein vti1a is proposed to drive fusion of intracellular organelles, but recent data also implicated vti1a in exocytosis. Here we show that vti1a is absent from mature secretory vesicles in adrenal chromaffin cells, but localizes to a compartment near the trans-Golgi network, partially overlapping with syntaxin-6. Exocytosis is impaired in vti1a null cells, partly due to fewer Ca(2+)-channels at the plasma membrane, partly due to fewer vesicles of reduced size and synaptobrevin-2 content. In contrast, release kinetics and Ca(2+)-sensitivity remain unchanged, indicating that the final fusion reaction leading to transmitter release is unperturbed. Additional deletion of the closest related SNARE, vti1b, does not exacerbate the vti1a phenotype, and vti1b null cells show no secretion defects, indicating that vti1b does not participate in exocytosis. Long-term re-expression of vti1a (days) was necessary for restoration of secretory capacity, whereas strong short-term expression (hours) was ineffective, consistent with vti1a involvement in an upstream step related to vesicle generation, rather than in fusion. We conclude that vti1a functions in vesicle generation and Ca(2+)-channel trafficking, but is dispensable for transmitter release.

From endosomes to the trans-Golgi network

The retrograde trafficking from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) is one of the major endocytic pathways to divert proteins and lipids away from lysosomal degradation. Retrograde transported cargos enter the TGN via two itineraries from either the early endosome/recycling endosome or the late endosome and involve various machinery components such as retromer, sorting nexins, clathrin, small GTPases, tethering factors and SNAREs. Recently, the pathway has been recognized for its role in signal transduction, physiology and pathogenesis of human diseases.

The role of the Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 protein in adipocyte insulin action

The Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) gene encodes a transmembrane protein involved in cholesterol efflux from the lysosome. SNPs within NPC1 have been associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, and mice heterozygous or null for NPC1 are insulin resistant. However, the molecular mechanism underpinning this association is currently undefined. This study aimed to investigate the effects of inhibiting NPC1 function on insulin action in adipocytes. Both pharmacological and genetic inhibition of NPC1 impaired insulin action. This impairment was evident at the level of insulin signalling and insulin-mediated glucose transport in the short term and decreased GLUT4 expression due to reduced liver X receptor (LXR) transcriptional activity in the long-term. These data show that cholesterol homeostasis through NPC1 plays a crucial role in maintaining insulin action at multiple levels in adipocytes.

Dynamic GLUT4 sorting through a syntaxin-6 compartment in muscle cells is derailed by insulin resistance-causing ceramide

GLUT4 constitutively recycles between the plasma membrane and intracellular depots. Insulin shifts this dynamic equilibrium towards the plasma membrane by recruiting GLUT4 to the plasma membrane from insulin-responsive vesicles. Muscle is the primary site for dietary glucose deposition; however, how GLUT4 sorts into insulin-responsive vesicles, and if and how insulin resistance affects this process, is unknown. In L6 myoblasts stably expressing myc-tagged GLUT4, we analyzed the intracellular itinerary of GLUT4 as it internalizes from the cell surface and examined if such sorting is perturbed by C2-ceramide, a lipid metabolite causing insulin resistance. Surface-labeled GLUT4myc that internalized for 30 min accumulated in a Syntaxin-6 (Stx6)- and Stx16-positive perinuclear sub-compartment devoid of furin or internalized transferrin, and displayed insulin-responsive re-exocytosis. C2-ceramide dispersed the Stx6-positive sub-compartment and prevented insulin-responsive re-exocytosis of internalized GLUT4myc, even under conditions not affecting insulin-stimulated signaling towards Akt. Microtubule disruption with nocodazole prevented pre-internalized GLUT4myc from reaching the Stx6-positive perinuclear sub-compartment and from undergoing insulin-responsive exocytosis. Removing nocodazole allowed both parameters to recover, suggesting that the Stx6-positive perinuclear sub-compartment was required for GLUT4 insulin-responsiveness. Accordingly, Stx6 knockdown inhibited by ∼50% the ability of internalized GLUT4myc to undergo insulin-responsive re-exocytosis without altering its overall perinuclear accumulation. We propose that Stx6 defines the insulin-responsive compartment in muscle cells. Our data are consistent with a model where ceramide could cause insulin resistance by altering intracellular GLUT4 sorting.

Development of a quantitative Correlative Light Electron Microscopy technique to study GLUT4 trafficking

Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM) combines advantages of light microscopy and electron microscopy in one experiment to deliver information above and beyond the capability of either modality alone. There are many different CLEM techniques, each having its own special advantages but also its technical challenges. It is however the biological question that (should) drive(s) the development and application of a specific CLEM technique in order to provide the answer. Here we describe the development of a CLEM technique that is based on the Tokuyasu cryo immuno-gold labelling technique that has allowed us to quantitatively study GLUT4 trafficking.