Zinc Stimulates Glucose Consumption by Modulating the Insulin Signaling Pathway in L6 Myotubes: Essential Roles of Akt-GLUT4, GSK3β, and mTOR-S6 K1

The present study was performed to evaluate the insulin-like effects of zinc in normal L6 myotubes as well as its ability to alleviate insulin resistance. Glucose consumption was measured in both normal and insulin-resistant L6 myotubes. Western blotting and immunofluorescence revealed that zinc exhibited insulin-like glucose transporting effects by activating key markers that are involved in the insulin signaling cascade (including Akt, GLUT4, and GSK3β), and downregulating members of the insulin signaling feedback cascade such as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6 K1).

Source: The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry - May 30, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Yuntang Wu, Huizi Lu, Huijun Yang, Chunlei Li, Qian Sang, Xinyan Liu, Yongzhe Liu, Yongming Wang, Zhong Sun Source Type: research