Insulin stimulates phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate production via the activation of Rab5

Mol Biol Cell. 2008 Jul;19(7):2718-28. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e08-01-0105. Epub 2008 Apr 23.

Abstract

Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P) plays an important role in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Insulin promotes the production of PI(3)P at the plasma membrane by a process dependent on TC10 activation. Here, we report that insulin-stimulated PI(3)P production requires the activation of Rab5, a small GTPase that plays a critical role in phosphoinositide synthesis and turnover. This activation occurs at the plasma membrane and is downstream of TC10. TC10 stimulates Rab5 activity via the recruitment of GAPEX-5, a VPS9 domain-containing guanyl nucleotide exchange factor that forms a complex with TC10. Although overexpression of plasma membrane-localized GAPEX-5 or constitutively active Rab5 promotes PI(3)P formation, knockdown of GAPEX-5 or overexpression of a dominant negative Rab5 mutant blocks the effects of insulin or TC10 on this process. Concomitant with its effect on PI(3)P levels, the knockdown of GAPEX-5 blocks insulin-stimulated Glut4 translocation and glucose uptake. Together, these studies suggest that the TC10/GAPEX-5/Rab5 axis mediates insulin-stimulated production of PI(3)P, which regulates trafficking of Glut4 vesicles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3-L1 Cells
  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • rab5 GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Gapex-5 protein, mouse
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Insulin
  • Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates
  • phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Rhoq protein, mouse
  • rab5 GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins