Protein kinase WNK1 promotes cell surface expression of glucose transporter GLUT1 by regulating a Tre-2/USP6-BUB2-Cdc16 domain family member 4 (TBC1D4)-Rab8A complex

J Biol Chem. 2010 Dec 10;285(50):39117-26. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.159418. Epub 2010 Oct 11.

Abstract

One mechanism by which mammalian cells regulate the uptake of glucose is the number of glucose transporter proteins (GLUT) present at the plasma membrane. In insulin-responsive cells types, GLUT4 is released from intracellular stores through inactivation of the Rab GTPase activating protein Tre-2/USP6-BUB2-Cdc16 domain family member 4 (TBC1D4) (also known as AS160). Here we describe that TBC1D4 forms a protein complex with protein kinase WNK1 in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. We show that WNK1 phosphorylates TBC1D4 in vitro and that the expression levels of WNK1 in these cells regulate surface expression of the constitutive glucose transporter GLUT1. WNK1 was found to increase the binding of TBC1D4 to regulatory 14-3-3 proteins while reducing its interaction with the exocytic small GTPase Rab8A. These effects were dependent on the catalytic activity because expression of a kinase-dead WNK1 mutant had no effect on binding of 14-3-3 and Rab8A, or on surface GLUT1 levels. Together, the data describe a pathway regulating constitutive glucose uptake via GLUT1, the expression level of which is related to several human diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 14-3-3 Proteins / metabolism
  • Biological Transport
  • Exocytosis
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1 / metabolism*
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4 / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Oligonucleotides / chemistry
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • 14-3-3 Proteins
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Oligonucleotides
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • SLC2A1 protein, human
  • SLC2A4 protein, human
  • TBC1D4 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1
  • WNK1 protein, human
  • RAB8A protein, human
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Glucose