PhD defence: Role of AMPK in Regulating Muscle Insulin Sensitivity

Rasmus Kjøbsted

PhD thesis

Physical activity has been shown to reverse insulin resistance by increasing insulin sensitivity of the muscle cell. Although we for many years have been aware of the beneficial effects of physical activity on general health, we still do not fully understand the molecular signaling pathways involved. Thus, increasing the understanding on how exercise enhances muscle insulin sensitivity may serve as a valuable source for future drug discovery in the treatment of muscle insulin resistance in various conditions.

Findings from Kjøbsted reveal the potential mechanism governing improvements in muscle insulin sensitivity after acute exercise. The thesis provides evidence to support that the energy sensing protein AMPK regulates the ability of insulin to stimulate muscle glucose uptake by increasing the translocation of glucose transporters to the cell surface membrane through TBC1D4. This seems evident in skeletal muscle from both healthy and type 2 diabetic subjects.

2016, 222 pages.

Time

29 April 2016, 14:00

Venue

Auditorium 1, August Krogh Building, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen.

Opponents

Associate Professor Nikolai Baastrup Nordsborg (chair), Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Professor Greg Cartee, University of Michigan, USA.

Professor Anna Krook, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

Supervisors

Professor Jørgen Wojtaszewski, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Associate Professor Jonas T. Treebak, The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.