The role of Ca²⁺ and calmodulin in insulin signalling in mammalian skeletal muscle

Authors: Bruton, J. D.; Katz, A.; Westerblad, H.

Source: Acta Physiologica, Volume 171, Number 3, March 2001 , pp. 259-265(7)

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Abstract:

The role of Ca²⁺ in mediating effects of insulin on skeletal muscle has been widely debated. It is believed that in skeletal muscle Ca²⁺ has a permissive role, necessary but not of prime importance in mediating the stimulatory actions of insulin. In this review, we present evidence that insulin causes a localized increase in the concentration of Ca²⁺. Specifically, insulin induces a rise in near-membrane Ca²⁺ but not the bulk Ca²⁺ in the myoplasm. The rise in near-membrane Ca²⁺ is because of an influx through channels that can be blocked by L-type Ca²⁺ channel inhibitors. Calcium appears to exert some of its subsequent effects via calmodulin-dependent processes as calmodulin inhibitors block the translocation of glucose transporters and other enzymes as well as the insulin-stimulated increase in glucose transport.

Keywords: calcium influx; calmodulin; insulin; myoplasmic calcium; near-membrane calcium; PI-3 kinase; skeletal muscle

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Publication date: 2001-03-01