Expression of a prenylation-deficient Rab4 inhibits the GLUT4 translocation induced by active phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase B

2001 ◽  
Vol 356 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mireille CORMONT ◽  
Nadine GAUTIER ◽  
Karine ILC ◽  
Yannick Le MARCHAND-BRUSTEL

The small GTPase Rab4 has been shown to participate in the subcellular distribution of GLUT4 under both basal and insulin-stimulated conditions in adipocytes. In the present work, we have characterized the effect of Rab4 ΔCT, a prenylation-deficient and thus cytosolic form of Rab4, in this process. We show that the expression of Rab4 ΔCT in freshly isolated adipocytes inhibits insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation, but only when this protein is in its GTP-bound active form. Further, it not only blocks the effect of insulin, but also that of a hyperosmotic shock, but does not interfere with the effect of zinc ions on GLUT4 translocation. Rab4 ΔCT was then shown to prevent GLUT4 translocation induced by the expression of an active form of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or of protein kinase B, without altering the activities of the enzymes. Our results are consistent with a role of Rab4 ΔCT acting as a dominant negative protein towards Rab4, possibly by binding to Rab4 effectors.

2000 ◽  
Vol 349 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia FERNÁNDEZ DE MATTOS ◽  
Elisabet DE LOS PINOS ◽  
Manel JOAQUIN ◽  
Albert TAULER

Previous studies have demonstrated that the F isoform of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase(6PF2K/Fru-2,6-BPase) is transcriptionally regulated by growth factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) pathway in the regulation of 6PF2K/Fru-2,6-BPase gene expression. We have completed studies using chemical inhibitors and expression vectors for the proteins involved in this signalling cascade. Treatment of cells with LY 294002, an inhibitor of PI 3-kinase, blocked the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-dependent stimulation of 6PF2K/Fru-2,6-BPase gene transcription. Transient transfection of a constitutively active PI 3-kinase was sufficient to activate transcription from the F-type 6PF2K/Fru-2,6-BPase promoter. In contrast, co-transfection with a dominant-negative form of PI 3-kinase completely abrogated the stimulation by EGF, and down-regulated the basal promoter activity. In an attempt to determine downstream proteins that lie between PI 3-kinase and 6PF2K/Fru-2,6-BPase gene expression, the overexpression of a constitutively active form of protein kinase B (PKB) was sufficient to activate 6PF2K/Fru-2,6-BPase gene expression, even in the presence of either a dominant-negative form of PI 3-kinase or LY 294002. The over-expression of p70/p85 ribosomal S6 kinase or the treatment with its inhibitor rapamycin did not affect 6PF2K/Fru-2,6-BPase transcription. We conclude that PI 3-kinase is necessary for the transcriptional activity of F-type 6PF2K/Fru-2,6-BPase, and that PKB is a downstream effector of PI 3-kinase directly involved in the regulation of 6PF2K/Fru-2,6-BPase gene expression.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 5469-5478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth M. Genot ◽  
Cecile Arrieumerlou ◽  
Gregory Ku ◽  
Boudewijn M. T. Burgering ◽  
Arthur Weiss ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The serine/threonine kinase Akt (also known as protein kinase B) (Akt/PKB) is activated upon T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) engagement or upon expression of an active form of phosphatidylinositide (PI) 3-kinase in T lymphocytes. Here we report that the small GTPase Rac1 is implicated in this pathway, connecting the receptor with the lipid kinase. We show that in Jurkat cells, activated forms of Rac1 or Cdc42, but not Rho, stimulate an increase in Akt/PKB activity. TCR-induced Akt/PKB activation is inhibited either by PI 3-kinase inhibitors (LY294002 and wortmannin) or by overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of Rac1 but not Cdc42. Accordingly, triggering of the TCR rapidly stimulates a transient increase in GTP-Rac content in these cells. Similar to TCR stimulation, L61Rac-induced Akt/PKB kinase activity is also LY294002 and wortmannin sensitive. However, induction of Akt/PKB activity by constitutive active PI 3-kinase is unaffected when dominant negative Rac1 is coexpressed, placing Rac1 upstream of PI 3-kinase in the signaling pathway. When analyzing the signaling hierarchy in the pathway leading to cytoskeleton rearrangements, we found that Rac1 acts downstream of PI 3-kinase, a finding that is in accordance with numerous studies in fibroblasts. Our results reveal a previously unrecognized role of the GTPase Rac1, acting upstream of PI 3-kinase in linking the TCR to Akt/PKB. This is the first report of a membrane receptor employing Rac1 as a downstream transducer for Akt/PKB activation.


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