Tiam1 mediates Rac1 activation and contraction-induced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells

• Published in: The FASEB journal Vol. 35; no. 2; p. e21210
• Main Authors: Yue, Yingying, Zhang, Chang, Zhao, Xiaoyun, Liu, Sasa, Lv, Xiaoting, Zhang, Shitian, Yang, Jianming, Chen, Liming, Duan, Hongquan, Zhang, Youyi, Yao, Zhi, Niu, Wenyan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2021
• Subjects: Tiam1; muscle contraction; AMPK; Rac1; glucose uptake
• DOI: 10.1096/fj.202001312R

Contraction-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle requires Rac1, but the molecular mechanism of its activation is not fully understood. Treadmill running was applied to induce C57BL/6 mouse hind limb skeletal muscle contraction in vivo and electrical pulse stimulation contracted C2C12 myotube cultures in vitro. The protein levels or activities of AMPK or the Rac1-specific GEF, Tiam1, were manipulated by activators, inhibitors, siRNA-mediated knockdown, and adenovirus-mediated expression. Activated Rac1 was detected by a pull-down assay and immunoblotting. Glucose uptake was measured using the 2-NBD-glucose fluorescent analog. Electrical pulse stimulated contraction or treadmill exercise upregulated the expression of Tiam1 in skeletal muscle in an AMPK-dependent manner. Axin1 siRNA-mediated knockdown diminished AMPK activation and upregulation of Tiam1 protein expression by contraction. Tiam1 siRNA-mediated knockdown diminished contraction-induced Rac1 activation, GLUT4 translocation, and glucose uptake. Contraction increased Tiam1 gene expression and serine phosphorylation of Tiam1 protein via AMPK. These findings suggest Tiam1 is part of an AMPK-Tiam1-Rac1 signaling pathway that mediates contraction-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells and tissue.