Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Small-molecule activators targeting the allosteric drug and metabolite (ADaM) site of AMPK enhance insulin-independent glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and lower glucose in preclinical models of hyperglycemia. The regulatory AMPKγ subunit plays a central role in energy sensing. While the skeletal muscle-selective γ3 isoform is essential for AMP/ZMP-induced glucose uptake, it is dispensable for ADaM site-binding activators. We hypothesized that the predominant γ1 isoform is required for ADaM site activator-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. METHODS: Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) was performed on mouse and human skeletal muscle mapping AMPK subunit isoform distribution across resident cell types. To determine γ isoform-specific requirements for activator-stimulated glucose uptake, skeletal muscle-specific inducible AMPKγ1/γ3 double knockout (imγ1(-/-)/γ3(-/-)) and single knockout (imγ1(-/-) and imγ3(-/-)) mice were generated. Ex vivo glucose uptake was measured following treatment with AICAR (AMP-mimetic) or MK-8722 (ADaM site activator), and in vivo MK-8722-induced blood glucose lowering was assessed. RESULTS: snRNA-seq revealed distinct AMPK isoform distribution: γ1 was ubiquitously expressed, whereas γ3 was enriched in glycolytic myofibers in both mouse and human skeletal muscle. Ex vivo, glucose uptake stimulated by either AICAR or MK-8722 was severely blunted in imγ1(-/-)/γ3(-/-) muscle, and MK-8722-induced blood glucose lowering was significantly blunted in vivo. AICAR but not MK-8722-stimulated muscle glucose uptake was abolished in imγ3(-/-), whereas both activators fully retained effects on glucose uptake and glucose lowering in imγ1(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: While γ1 predominates in stabilizing the AMPKα2β2γ1 complex, it is dispensable for AMPK activator-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, whether mediated via the nucleotide-binding or ADaM site.