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Effect of Supplemental Dietary Zinc on the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Signaling Pathway in Skeletal Muscle and Liver from Post-absorptive Mice

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Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element that functions in cellular signaling. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates the initiation of protein synthesis. The objective of this study was to determine whether Zn could stimulate protein phosphorylation in the mTOR pathway in vivo. Mice (C57BL/6J, n = 30) were fed Zn marginal diets (ZM, 5 mg/kg) for 4 weeks, followed by fasting (F) and/or refeeding with ZM or Zn supplemental (300 mg/kg, ZS) diets for 3 or 6 h. Plasma insulin was greater (P < 0.05) in refed animals as compared to F animals. Protein phosphorylation was detected using multiplex analysis and Western blotting. Multiplex analysis indicated greater (P < 0.05) p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3 α/β) phosphorylation in livers from 6-h refed ZS animals as compared to F animals. Western blots indicated increased (P < 0.05) Akt (Ser 473) phosphorylation in skeletal muscle from animals refed ZS diets for 3 and 6 h as compared to F animals. The ZS diet affected phosphorylation of GSK-3 (α/β) in liver, as 3-h ZS refed animals had greater (P < 0.01) phosphorylation than F animals. These findings indicate that Zn may contribute to the initiation of protein synthesis as a signaling molecule in vivo.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge Ms. Nancy Andersen, Ms. Nicole Gauthier, Mr. Louis Marchitelli, and SPC Nelson Morales-Martinez for their expert technical assistance. The authors acknowledge Mr. Bruce Krasin (University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Department of Nutrition) for his assistance with Zn analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Military Nutrition Division, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Natick, MA, 01760, USA

    James P. McClung, Tyson N. Tarr, Angus G. Scrimgeour & Andrew J. Young

  2. Military Performance Division, USARIEM, Natick, MA, 01760, USA

    Brian R. Barnes

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  1. James P. McClung
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  2. Tyson N. Tarr
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  3. Brian R. Barnes
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  4. Angus G. Scrimgeour
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  5. Andrew J. Young
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Correspondence to James P. McClung.

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The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Army or the Department of Defense. Any citations of commercial organizations and trade names in this report do not constitute an official Department of the Army endorsement of approval of the products or services of these organizations.

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McClung, J.P., Tarr, T.N., Barnes, B.R. et al. Effect of Supplemental Dietary Zinc on the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Signaling Pathway in Skeletal Muscle and Liver from Post-absorptive Mice. Biol Trace Elem Res 118, 65–76 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-007-0018-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-007-0018-8

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