Activation of glucose transport and AMP-activated protein kinase during muscle contraction in adenylate kinase-1 knockout mice.

AIM: Recently it was reported that adenylate kinase-1 knockout mice (AK(-/-)) exhibit elevated rates of glucose uptake following repeated contractions and hypoxia, but the mechanism was not investigated. The purpose of the present study was to measure the changes in glucose transport and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation/activity following repeated contractions in isolated muscles from AK(-/-) mice. METHODS: Extensor digitorum longus muscles underwent an intense stimulation protocol that decreased force to less than 10% of initial by the end of 10 min. Glucose uptake was measured with 2-deoxy-D-[1,2-(3)H]glucose. RESULTS: Muscle glucose uptake in the basal state was identical between control and AK(-/-) mice and increased twofold in both groups during contraction. The general antioxidant: N-acetylcysteine, decreased contraction-mediated glucose uptake by 30% in both groups. AMPK activity and phosphorylation were similar in the two groups in the basal state and, surprisingly, after contraction as well (approximately threefold increase). Both groups exhibited marked decreases in adenosine triphosphate following contraction (60-70% depletion), which coincided with stoichiometric increases in the content of inosine monophosphate, an indirect marker of AMP production. Adenylate kinase activity averaged 2081 +/- 106 micromol min(-1) (g dry wt)(-1) for control and 37 +/- 10 for AK(-/-) muscles; the activity in the AK(-/-) muscle is likely accounted for by isoforms other than AK1. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, AK(-/-) mice have a normal capacity for contraction-mediated glucose uptake. This appears to occur via increases in AMP and reactive oxygen species that result in the activation of AMPK.

Activation of Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase II during repeated contractions in single muscle fibres from mouse is dependent on the frequency of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) release.

AIM: To investigate the importance and contribution of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) activity on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+)-release in response to different work intensities in single, intact muscle fibres. METHODS: CaMKII activity was blocked in single muscle fibres using either the inhibitory peptide AC3-I or the pharmacological inhibitor KN-93. The effect on tetanic force production and [Ca(2+)](i) was determined during work of different intensities. The activity of CaMKII was assessed by mathematical modelling. RESULTS: Using a standard protocol to induce fatigue (50x 70 Hz, 350 ms duration, every 2 s) the number of stimuli needed to induce fatigue was decreased from 47 +/- 3 contractions in control to 33 +/- 3 with AC3-I. KN-93 was a more potent inhibitor, decreasing the number of contractions needed to induce fatigue to 15 +/- 3. Tetanic [Ca(2+)](i) was 100 +/- 11%, 97 +/- 11% and 67 +/- 11% at the end of stimulation in control, AC3-I and KN-93 respectively. A similar inhibition was obtained using a high intensity protocol (20x 70 Hz, 200 ms duration, every 300 ms). However, using a long interval protocol (25x 70 Hz, 350 ms duration, every 5 s) no change was observed in either tetanic [Ca(2+)](i) or force when inhibiting CaMKII. A mathematical model used to investigate the activation pattern of CaMKII suggests that there is a threshold of active CaMKII that has to be surpassed in order for CaMKII to affect SR Ca(2+) release. CONCLUSION: Our results show that CaMKII is crucial for maintaining proper SR Ca(2+) release and that this is regulated in a work intensity manner.