Inhibition of glycogen synthesis by fatty acid in C2C12 muscle cells is independent of PKC-α, -ε, and -θ

We have previously shown that glycogen synthesis is reduced in lipid-treated C2C12 skeletal muscle myotubes and that this is independent of changes in glucose uptake. Here, we tested whether mitochondrial metabolism of these lipids is necessary for this inhibition and whether the activation of specific protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms is involved. C2C12 myotubes were pretreated with fatty acids and subsequently stimulated with insulin for the determination of glycogen synthesis. The carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 inhibitor etomoxir, an inhibitor of beta-oxidation of acyl-CoA, did not protect against the inhibition of glycogen synthesis caused by the unsaturated fatty acid oleate. In addition, although oleate caused translocation, indicating activation, of individual PKC isoforms, inhibition of PKC by pharmacological agents or adenovirus-mediated overexpression of dominant negative PKC-alpha,-epsilon, or -theta mutants was unable to prevent the inhibitory effects of oleate on glycogen synthesis. We conclude that neither mitochondrial lipid metabolism nor activation of PKC-alpha,-epsilon, or -theta plays a role in the direct inhibition of glycogen synthesis by unsaturated fatty acids.