Synthesis of preproinsulin with RNA preparation of streptozotocin--nicotinamide induced B-cell tumor

Cyclic ADP-ribose binds to FK506-binding protein 12.6 to release Ca2+ from islet microsomes

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) is a second messenger for Ca2+ mobilization via the ryanodine receptor (RyR) from islet microsomes for insulin secretion (Takasawa, S., Nata, K., Yonekura, H., and Okamoto, H. (1993) Science 259, 370-373). In the present study, FK506, an immunosuppressant that prolongs allograft survival, as well as cADPR were found to induce the release of Ca2+ from islet microsomes. After islet microsomes were treated with FK506, the Ca2+ release by cADPR from microsomes was reduced. cADPR as well as FK506 bound to FK506-binding protein 12.6 (FKBP12.6), which we also found occurs naturally in islet microsomes. When islet microsomes were treated with cADPR, FKBP12.6 dissociated from the microsomes and moved to the supernatant, releasing Ca2+ from the intracellular stores. The microsomes that were then devoid of FKBP12.6 did not show Ca2+ release by cADPR. These results strongly suggest that cADPR may be the ligand for FKBP12.6 in islet RyR and that the binding of cADPR to FKBP12.6 frees the RyR from FKBP12.6, causing it to release Ca2+.

Cloning and characterization of cDNA encoding rat ADP-ribosyl cyclase/cyclic ADP-ribose hydrolase (homologue to human CD38) from islets of Langerhans

We report the cloning and cDNA sequence of rat CD38, ADP-ribosyl cyclase/cyclic ADP-ribose hydrolase. Rat CD38 is composed of 303 amino acids and shares a high degree of homology with human and mouse CD38. Rat CD38 mRNA is expressed in various tissues including pancreatic islets but not in RINm5F cells.

The synthesis of insulin and proinsulin in a cell-free system derived from the streptozotocin-nicotinamide--induced rat islet adenoma

Preliminary studies were conducted to develop a cell-free system for insulin biosynthesis using the streptozotocin-nicotinamide--induced rat islet adenoma. Radiolabeled proteins, migrating on steric exclusion chromatography and SDS-gel electrophoresis in the region of insulin and proinsulin, were synthesized in a system prepared from the tumor 800 X g supernatant fraction, rat liver cytosol, and appropriate energy substrates. The proteins were not synthesized by a rat liver cell-free system, and synthesis could be substantially inhibited by the addition of cycloheximide. In addition, it could be shown that the islet proteins were not the products of residual intact cells within the system, nor were they an artifact due to nonspecific binding of [3H]-L-leucine to pre-existing insulin and proinsulin. The radiolabeled material eluting with insulin on steric exclusion chromatography was identified as [3H]-insulin by immunoaffinity column chromatography.

Isolation of catfish proinsulin messenger RNA and synthesis of its complementary DNA

The purpose of these experiments was to obtain proinsulin mRNA from catfish pancreatic islets and synthesize its cDNA. Poly(A)-rich mRNA was electrophoresed on preparative agarose-urea gels. One RNA fraction was obtained which translated predominantly preproinsulin. This mRNA was estimated to be approx. 210 000 Mr (650 nucleotides) when electrophoresed under denaturing conditions. [3H]Proinsulin cDNA was hybridized to excess RNA to monitor purification of mRNA from total islet RNA. Greater than 94% of proinsulin messenger contained poly(A) sequences. [3H]Proinsulin cDNA hybridized to its template mRNA with a Rot 1/2 of 4.4 x 10(-3) mole x sec/l. The overall purification was 80-fold by this type of analysis. Thermal denaturation studies indicated a high degree of fidelity of hybrid formation between [3H]proinsulin cDNA and proinsulin mRNA. Proinsulin comprised 20% of total islet protein when synthesis was measured in vivo (Albert and Permutt, 1979) and 12-20% when total islet mRNA was translated in a cell-free system. Using the [3H]proinsulin cDNA probe it was estimated that proinsulin mRNA accounted for approx. 15% of total islet mRNA.

Translational control of proinsulin synthesis by glucose

Glucose is known to stimulate proinsulin synthesis in pancreatic islets of rats as well as of many other animals, but the mechanism involved remains uncertain. If proinsulin induction by glucose is regulated at the transcriptional level, the amount of proinsulin mRNA may be increased by the administration of glucose. Alternatively, if proinsulin induction is regulated at the translational level, the rate of proinsulin synthesis may not be correlated with the amount of proinsulin mRNA. We have now used a proinsulin cDNA hybridisation method to determine the amount of proinsulin mRNA and the subcellular distribuation of proinsulin mRNA in rat pancreatic islets. The results suggest that glucose-induced proinsulin synthesis is mainly achieved by enhancing the trnaslation efficiency of proinsulin mRNA preexistent on the membrane-bound polysome in pancreatic islets.

Synthesis of carp proinsulin in Xenopus oocytes

Total poly(A)-containing RNA from Brockmann boides of carp (Cyprinus carpio) directs the synthesis of authentic carp proinsulin in Xenopus oocytes. Neither preproinsulin nor further processing of the proinsulin to insulin can be detected in the oocytes.