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Adiponectin, an adipokine secreted by the white adipose tissue, plays an important role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism and controlling energy homeostasis in insulin-sensitive tissues. A decrease in the circulating level of adiponectin has been linked to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and metabolic syndrome. Adiponectin exerts its effects through two membrane receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. APPL1 is the first identified protein that interacts directly with adiponectin receptors. APPL1 is an adaptor protein with multiple functional domains, the Binl/amphiphysin/rvs167, pleckstrin homology, and phosphotyrosine binding domains. The PTB domain of APPL1 interacts directly with the intracellular region of adiponectin receptors. Through this interaction, APPL1 mediates adiponectin signaling and its effects on metabolism. APPL1 also functions in insulin-signaling pathway and is an important mediator of adiponectin-dependent insulin sensitization in skeletal muscle. Adiponectin signaling through APPL1 is necessary to exert its anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects on endothelial cells. APPL1 also acts as a mediator of other signaling pathways by interacting directly with membrane receptors or signaling proteins, thereby playing critical roles in cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell survival, endosomal trafficking, and chromatin remodeling. This review focuses mainly on our current understanding of adiponectin signaling in various tissues, the role of APPL1 in mediating adiponectin signaling, and also its role in the cross-talk between adiponectin/insulin-signaling pathways. adaptor protein containing pleckstrin homology domain, phosphotyrosine binding domain, and leucine zipper motif

Mutations in SURF1 (surfeit locus protein 1) COX (cytochrome c oxidase) assembly protein are associated with Leigh's syndrome, a human mitochondrial disorder that manifests as severe mitochondrial phenotypes and early lethality. In contrast, mice lacking the SURF1 protein (Surfl-/-) are viable and were previously shown to have enhanced longevity and a greater than 50% reduction in COX activity. We measured mitochondrial function in heart and skeletal muscle, and despite the significant reduction in COX activity, we found little or no difference in ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation, membrane potential, ATP production or respiration in isolated mitochondria from Surfl-/- mice compared with wild-type. However, blood lactate levels were elevated and Surfl-/- mice had reduced running endurance, suggesting compromised mitochondrial energy metabolism in vivo. Decreased COX activity in Surfl-/- mice is associated with increased markers of mitochondrial biogenesis [PGC-1α (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator 1α) and VDAC (voltage-dependent anion channel)] in both heart and skeletal muscle. Although mitochondrial biogenesis is a common response in the two tissues, skeletal muscle has an up-regulation of the UPR™ (mitochondrial unfolded protein response) and heart exhibits induction of the Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2) antioxidant response pathway. These data are the first to show induction of the UPR™ in a mammalian model of decreased COX activity. In addition, the results of the present study suggest that impaired mitochondrial function can lead to induction of mitochondrial stress pathways to confer protective effects on cellular homoeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mice lacking Surf1, a complex IV assembly protein, have ~50-70% reduction in cytochrome c oxidase activity in all tissues yet a paradoxical increase in lifespan. Here we report that Surf1-/- mice have lower body (15%) and fat (20%) mass, in association with reduced lipid storage, smaller adipocytes, and elevated indicators of fatty acid oxidation in white adipose tissue (WAT) compared with control mice. The respiratory quotient in the Surf1-/- mice was significantly lower than in the control animals (0.83-0.93 vs. 0.90-0.98), consistent with enhanced fat utilization in Surf1-/- mice. Elevated fat utilization was associated with increased insulin sensitivity measured as insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, as well as an increase in insulin receptor levels (~2-fold) and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4; ~1.3-fold) levels in WAT in the Surf1-/- mice. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ-coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) mRNA and protein was up-regulated by 2.5- and 1.9-fold, respectively, in WAT from Surf1-/- mice, and the expression of PGC-1α target genes and markers of mitochondrial biogenesis was elevated. Together, these findings point to a novel and unexpected link between reduced mitochondrial complex IV activity, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and increased mitochondrial biogenesis that may contribute to the increased longevity in the Surf1-/- mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binding of the adaptor protein APPL1 to adiponectin receptors is necessary for adiponectin-induced AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in muscle, yet the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. Here we show that in muscle cells adiponectin and metformin induce AMPK activation by promoting APPL 1-dependent LKB1 cytosolic translocation. APPL1 mediates adiponectin signaling by directly interacting with adiponectin receptors and enhances LKB1 cytosolic localization by anchoring this kinase in the cytosol. Adiponectin also activates another AMPK upstream kinase Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase by activating phospholipase C and subsequently inducing Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum, which plays a minor role in AMPK activation. Our results show that in muscle cells adiponectin is able to activate AMPK via two distinct mechanisms as follows: a major pathway (the APPL1/LKB1dependent pathway) that promotes the cytosolic localization of LKB1 and a minor pathway (the phospholipase C/Ca2+/Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-dependent pathway) that stimulates Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess nutrient uptake leads to obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR), a major component of the nutrient-sensing pathway also regulates mitochondrial oxidative function. Rapamycin, a pharmacological inhibitor of mTOR, causes glucose intolerance and inhibits mitochondrial oxidative function. While a number of studies have focused on the effect of rapamycin on control wild-type mice, ours is the first to study the effect of rapamycin on mitochondrial gene expression and insulin sensitivity in the db/db mouse, a model of diabetic dyslipidemia. Female db/+ and db/db mice were fed ad libitum a rapamycin-containing diet or a control diet for 6 months, starting at two months of age. Body weight, fat mass, lean mass and food intake were measured monthly. Effect of rapamycin or control diet on markers of adipogenesis, fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis in the gonadal white adipose tissue (WAT) as well as different serum parameters were assessed. Whole body insulin sensitivity was measured by insulin tolerance test. Rapamycin feeding to db/db mice decreased body weight (58%) and fat mass (33%), elevated markers of fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis in WAT, reduced circulating non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFA), elevated circulating adiponectin and improved insulin sensitivity, compared to control diet fed db/db mice. These data demonstrate that rapamycin exhibits an anti-obesity effect and improves whole body insulin sensitivity in db/db mice and suggest an unexpected effect of simultaneous inhibition mTOR and leptin signaling in mice.