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Polyunsaturated fatty acids do not activate AMP-activated protein kinase in mouse tissues

Agnieszka Dobrzyn1, Pawel Dobrzyn, Makoto Miyazaki

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|May 27, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) do not activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in mice. This suggests that increased AMPK activity in Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) deficient mice is independent of PUFA levels.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Metabolic pathways
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) deficiency alters fatty acid metabolism, promoting oxidation over synthesis.
  • AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway activation is implicated in SCD1 deficiency.
  • SCD1-deficient mice exhibit elevated polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), prompting investigation into their role in AMPK activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the direct effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation.
  • To determine if increased PUFA levels in SCD1 deficiency are responsible for AMPK activation in liver, skeletal muscle, and heart.

Main Methods:

  • Mice were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil (rich in n-3 PUFA) for 14 days.
  • Tissue samples (liver, skeletal muscle, heart) were analyzed for PUFA content.
  • AMPK phosphorylation and protein levels were assessed in the analyzed tissues.

Main Results:

  • Fish oil supplementation significantly increased n-3 PUFA content in all examined tissues.
  • Hepatic mRNA levels of fatty acid synthase and acyl-CoA oxidase changed consistent with known PUFA effects.
  • No significant changes in AMPK phosphorylation or protein content were observed in liver, skeletal muscle, or heart after PUFA feeding.

Conclusions:

  • Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) do not appear to be involved in the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in mouse tissues.
  • The observed AMPK activation in Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) deficient mice is likely independent of elevated PUFA levels.

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