The p21‐activated kinase 2 (PAK2) but not PAK1 regulates contraction‐stimulated skeletal muscle glucose transport

摘要

Muscle contraction stimulates skeletal muscle glucose transport. Since it occurs independently of insulin, it is an important alternative pathway to increase glucose transport in insulin‐resistant states, but the intracellular signaling mechanisms are not fully understood. Muscle contraction activates group I p21‐activated kinases (PAKs) in mouse and human skeletal muscle. PAK1 and PAK2 are downstream targets of Rac1, which is a key regulator of contraction‐stimulated glucose transport. Thus, PAK1 and PAK2 could be downstream effectors of Rac1 in contraction‐stimulated glucose transport. The current study aimed to test the hypothesis that PAK1 and/or PAK2 regulate contraction‐induced glucose transport.