Sorting of GLUT4 into its insulin-sensitive store requires the Sec1/Munc18 protein mVps45

Mol Biol Cell. 2013 Aug;24(15):2389-97. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E13-01-0011. Epub 2013 Jun 5.

Abstract

Insulin stimulates glucose transport in fat and muscle cells by regulating delivery of the facilitative glucose transporter, glucose transporter isoform 4 (GLUT4), to the plasma membrane. In the absence of insulin, GLUT4 is sequestered away from the general recycling endosomal pathway into specialized vesicles, referred to as GLUT4-storage vesicles. Understanding the sorting of GLUT4 into this store is a major challenge. Here we examine the role of the Sec1/Munc18 protein mVps45 in GLUT4 trafficking. We show that mVps45 is up-regulated upon differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipocytes and is expressed at stoichiometric levels with its cognate target-soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor, syntaxin 16. Depletion of mVps45 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes results in decreased GLUT4 levels and impaired insulin-stimulated glucose transport. Using sub-cellular fractionation and an in vitro assay for GLUT4-storage vesicle formation, we show that mVps45 is required to correctly traffic GLUT4 into this compartment. Collectively our data reveal a crucial role for mVps45 in the delivery of GLUT4 into its specialized, insulin-regulated compartment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3-L1 Cells
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cytoplasmic Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4 / metabolism*
  • Insulin / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Munc18 Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Receptors, Transferrin / metabolism
  • Syntaxin 16 / metabolism
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Insulin
  • Munc18 Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Transferrin
  • Slc2a4 protein, mouse
  • Stxbp2 protein, mouse
  • Syntaxin 16
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • Vps45 protein, mouse
  • syntaxin 16, mouse