An in Vitro system for studying insulin release caused by secretory granules-plasma membrane interaction: definition of the system

Metabolic cycles and signals for insulin secretion

In this review, we focus on recent developments in our understanding of nutrient-induced insulin secretion that challenge a key aspect of the "canonical" model, in which an oxidative phosphorylation-driven rise in ATP production closes KATP channels. We discuss the importance of intrinsic β cell metabolic oscillations; the phasic alignment of relevant metabolic cycles, shuttles, and shunts; and how their temporal and compartmental relationships align with the triggering phase or the secretory phase of pulsatile insulin secretion. Metabolic signaling components are assigned regulatory, effectory, and/or homeostatic roles vis-à-vis their contribution to glucose sensing, signal transmission, and resetting the system. Taken together, these functions provide a framework for understanding how allostery, anaplerosis, and oxidative metabolism are integrated into the oscillatory behavior of the secretory pathway. By incorporating these temporal as well as newly discovered spatial aspects of β cell metabolism, we propose a much-refined MitoCat-MitoOx model of the signaling process for the field to evaluate.

Cell signalling in insulin secretion: the molecular targets of ATP, cAMP and sulfonylurea

Clarification of the molecular mechanisms of insulin secretion is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of diabetes and for development of novel therapeutic strategies for the disease. Insulin secretion is regulated by various intracellular signals generated by nutrients and hormonal and neural inputs. In addition, a variety of glucose-lowering drugs including sulfonylureas, glinide-derivatives, and incretin-related drugs such as dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are used for glycaemic control by targeting beta cell signalling for improved insulin secretion. There has been a remarkable increase in our understanding of the basis of beta cell signalling over the past two decades following the application of molecular biology, gene technology, electrophysiology and bioimaging to beta cell research. This review discusses cell signalling in insulin secretion, focusing on the molecular targets of ATP, cAMP and sulfonylurea, an essential metabolic signal in glucose-induced insulin secretion (GIIS), a critical signal in the potentiation of GIIS, and the commonly used glucose-lowering drug, respectively.

A specific interaction in vitro between pancreatic zymogen granules and plasma membranes: stimulation by G-protein activators but not by Ca2+

The molecular details of the final step in the process of regulated exocytosis, the fusion of the membrane of the secretory granule with the plasma membrane, are at present obscure. As a first step in an investigation of this membrane fusion event, we have developed a cell-free assay for the interaction between pancreatic zymogen granules and plasma membranes. We show here that plasma membranes are able to trigger the release of the granule contents, and that this effect is specific to pancreatic membranes, involves membrane fusion, requires membrane proteins, and is stimulated by activators of G-proteins but not by Ca2+. The assay is simple, reliable, and rapid, and should permit the identification of proteins that are involved in the exocytotic fusion event.

Perforated MDCK cells support intracellular transport

We have developed a method for perforating the plasma membrane of MDCK cells while retaining cellular functions. A nitrocellulose acetate filter was applied to the apical side of cells, grown on a glass coverslip, and allowed to dry. Segments of the apical plasma membrane adhered to the filter and were detached from the cell layer by shearing when the filter was peeled off. This allowed macromolecules such as antibodies and enzymes to diffuse into the cells. The cells were otherwise intact as judged by light and electron microscopy. The perforated cells maintained their capacity to support vesicular transport of proteins and lipids. Vesicular stomatitis virus infected cells readily incorporated [35S]methionine into G protein following permeabilization. This G protein was core-glycosylated during assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum, and was further transported to the trans Golgi with high efficiency. Experiments using lipid probes demonstrated that newly synthesized fluorescent sphingolipids were transported from the Golgi complex to the basolateral cell surface in perforated cells. Our results show that perforated cells provide a convenient and efficient alternative to cell-free assays for studying the molecular mechanism of intracellular transport.

The dual effector system for exocytosis in mast cells: obligatory requirement for both Ca2+ and GTP

The secretory process is a coordinated cellular response, initiated by occupation of surface receptors and comprising an ordered sequence of biochemical steps subject to multiple controls. Conceptually we can divide the sequence into two main sections comprising early, receptor-mediated events leading to generation of intracellular second messengers, and later events leading to membrane fusion and exocytosis. With the discovery that occupation of Ca2+ mobilising receptors leads to activation of polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase (PPI-pde) through the mediation of a G-protein (Gp), all the early events can be ascribed to the plasma membrane. Investigation of the exocytotic stage of secretion has been simplified by the use of permeabilised cells in which the composition of the cytosol can be precisely controlled. We have used streptolysin-O, a bacterial cytolysin which generates protein-sized pores in the plasma membrane, to investigate the exocytotic mechanism of rat mast cells. We find that in addition to the activation of PPI-dpe, GTP also acts in concert with Ca2+ at, or close to, the exocytotic site. Exocytosis can occur after substantial depletion of cytosol lactate dehydrogenase and 3-phosphoglycerate kinase indicating that soluble cytosol proteins are unlikely to play any role. There is no absolute requirement for ATP or phosphorylating nucleotide in exocytosis though when present the effective affinities of the two obligatory effectors (i.e. Ca2+ and GTP) are substantially enhanced.

The role of phosphoenolpyruvate in insulin secretion: the effect of L-phenylalanine

Incubation of rat islets with phenylalanine increased the tissue content of phosophoenolpyruvate, both in the presence and in the absence of glucose. At the same time, L-phenylalanine neither stimulated nor inhibited insulin release. It is unlikely that insulin secretion is tightly coupled to the availability of phosphoenolpyruvate in rat islets.

Evidence that cobalt ion inhibition of prolactin secretion occurs at an intracellular locus

Cobalt inhibition of stimulated prolactin secretion has been interpreted as demonstrating an essential role for enhanced calcium influx in the action of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in GH3 cells. However, this interpretation is based on the assumption that cobalt ion (Co2+) binds to the external surface of cells to antagonize calcium-mediated processes only by blocking influx of extracellular calcium ion (Ca2+). In this report, we present evidence that Co2+ acts at an intracellular locus (or loci) to inhibit prolactin secretion. When GH3 cells were incubated in medium containing 1.5 mM Ca2+, Co2+ inhibited basal as well as 50 mM K+- and TRH-induced secretion; half-maximal effect occurred between 0.1 and 0.3 mM Co2+. When cells were incubated in medium containing 0.05 and 0.003 mM Ca2+, concentrations that abolish 50 mM K+-induced prolactin secretion, Co2+ still inhibited basal and TRH-stimulated prolactin secretion. Co2+ also inhibited prolactin secretion stimulated by 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine, dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide, three secretagogues that act to elevate intracellular cAMP, a mechanism which appears not to involve enhanced Ca2+ influx. Last, the presence of Co2+ within the cell was shown by fluorescence quenching of intracellularly trapped Quin 2, a chelator of divalent cations. These data demonstrate that Co2+ enters GH3 cells and that Co2+ inhibition of prolactin secretion does not involve extracellular Ca2+. We suggest that Co2+ not only blocks Ca2+ channels in GH3 cells, but it inhibits prolactin secretion at an intracellular locus (loci). Hence, inhibition by Co2+ should not be interpreted as demonstrating a requirement for Ca2+ influx in stimulated secretion.

Immunological and kinetic properties of pyruvate kinase in rat pancreatic islets

Pyruvate kinase in rat pancreatic islets was characterized immunologically and kinetically. It is concluded that this activity is predominantly if not totally of the M(2) type.

Coupling of insulin binding and insulin action on glucose transport in fat cells

The initial lag phase of insulin action on glucose transport in adipocytes reflects an unknown process that couples receptor binding and glucose transport activity. The influence of temperature, cellular ATP, cyclic AMP, and calcium on this process and a possible relation to internalization of insulin were studied. The Arrhenius plot of the coupling shows a break in slope at 30 degrees C; the activation energy below 30 degrees C is 17.5 kcal/mol. Reduction of cellular ATP by 70% prolongs the coupling process; initial binding and final maximal response of the glucose transport remain unaffected. Further reduction of ATP (greater than 90%) before addition of insulin abolishes the coupling completely. Reduction of ATP at different time points after addition of insulin blocks further activation; however, the actual state of activity is preserved. Calcium depletion by EDTA prolongs the coupling and decreases the maximal response. Internalization of insulin as determined in chloroquine-treated cells begins later than transport activation and is in contrast to transport activation not observable at 15 degrees C. In conclusion, the coupling is not related to internalization; it is ATP-dependent, whereas the initial binding and the activated transport system are ATP-independent. Calcium but not cyclic AMP might be second messenger or cofactor in the coupling process.

Calmodulin in endocrine cells and its multiple roles in hormone action

Calmodulin interaction with Ca2+ may present a receptor mechanism analogous to the association of steroid hormones with cytoplasmic receptor proteins. In the systems examined to date, neither calmodulin nor Ca2+ alone have stimulatory effects. We have attempted to illustrate the similarities between the regulation of cellular events by Ca2+-calmodulin and the cyclic nucleotide system. If a general mechanism for calmodulin can be predicted it is to activate various enzymes to phosphorylate target proteins in a Ca2+-dependent manner. It is also of interest to point out the coorindate regulation of protein phosphorylation by Ca2+ and cAMP. Calmodulin can be considered to be involved in both types of reactions. This Ca2+-receptor not only activates Ca2+-dependent protein kinases directly but also plays an indirect role in cAMP-dependent phosphorylation by participating in the regulation of the intracellular steady-state levels of cAMP. The importance of calmodulin as a Ca2+-receptor and as a modulator of hormone action and endocrine cells illustrates the pleiotypic nature of this protein in both cellular and molecular aspects of endocrinology.

Glucoreceptor mechanisms and the control of insulin release and biosynthesis

The models proposed for the means whereby the B-cell recognises glucose and related compounds as signals for insulin release and biosynthesis are discussed. The observed correlations between rates of metabolism and insulin release and biosynthesis are consistent with the substrate-site hypothesis. For glucose itself, the enzymes catalysing the phosphorylation of the sugar provide an explanation for the major characteristics of the islet responses, but for N-acetylglucosamine evidence is presented that the sugar transport system fulfils this discriminatory role. Possible mechanisms whereby sugar metabolism may be linked to changes in Ca2+-handling are considered and evidence is given supporting a role for the cytosolic NADPH/NADP+ ratio and the islet content of phosphoenolpyruvate. The nature of the targets for cyclic AMP and Ca2+ is discussed and some properties of islet cAMP-dependent protein kinase are summarised. Evidence is presented for the presence of calmodulin in islets and the possible involvement of calmodulin in stimulus-secretion coupling. On the basis of these considerations a speculative hypothesis for the mechanisms involved in the B-cell responses to glucose is outlined.

Structural specificity of nucleotides for insulin secretory action from the isolated perfused rat pancreas

The study concerned the effects of variuos nucleotides on the insulin secretion from the isolated perfused rat pancreas. ATP, the first nucleotide studied, increased the insulin release induced by glucose 1.5 g/l. There was a first immediate peak followed by a second significant and durable increase. The log dose-response curve was linear for concentrations ranging from 0.825 microM to 330 microM. The effects of natural adenine derivatives (ATP, ADP, 5' AMP, cAMP and adenosine) were compared. ATP was the most active compound; ADP had nearly the same activity as ATP (relative potency ATP/ADP = 3.2); 5' AMP, cAMP and adenosine displayed a very weak activity (about 100 fold less active). Adenylimido-diphosphate (AMP-PNP), a non-phosphorylating structural analogue of ATP, clearly stimulated insulin secretion and its effect was concentration-related. It was about 10 fold less active than ATP. The comparison of triphosphorylated derivatives from various purine nucleosides (ATP, GTP, ITP) or pyrimidine nucleosides (CTP and UTP) showed that only the purine derivatives had a strong insulin secretory effect with, in order of decreasing activity: ATP greater than GTP greater than ITP. These results show that certain structural features (purine basis and di- or triphosphate groups) are essential to elicit an insulin secretory effect.

The flow properties of axoplasm in a defined chemical environment: influence of anions and calcium

The flow properties of axoplasm have been studied in a defined chemical environment. Axoplasm extruded from squid giant axons was introduced into porous cellulose acetate tubes of diameter roughly equal to that of the original axon. Passage of axoplasm along the tube rapidly coated the tube walls with a layer of protein. By measuring the rate of low back and forth along the tube, the rheological properties of the axoplasm plug were investigated at a range of pressures and in a variety of media. Axoplasm behaves as a classical Bingham body the motion of which can be characterized by a yield stress (theta) and a plastic viscosity (eta p). In a potassium methanesulphonate medium containing 65 nM free Ca2+, theta averaged 109 +/- 46 dyn/cm2 and eta p1 146 +/- 83 P. These values were little affected by ATP, COLCHICINE, CYTOCHOLASIN B or by replacing K by Na but were sensitive to the anion composition of the medium. The effectiveness of different anions at reducing theta and eta p1 was in the order SCN greater than I greater then Br greater than Cl greater than methanesulphonate. Theta and eta p1 were also drastically reduced by increasing the ionized Ca. This effect required millimolar amounts of Ca, was unaffected by the presence of ATP and was irreversible. It could be blocked by the protease inhibitor TLCK. E.p.r. measurements showed that within the matrix of the axoplasm gel there is a watery space that is largely unaffected by anions or calcium.

Glucose-stimulated 45Calcium efflux from isolated rat pancreatic islets

Kinetics of (45)Ca efflux and insulin release were studied in collagenase-isolated rat islets during 2-h perifusions with calcium-depleted (0.05 mM) bicarbonate-phosphate buffer containing 2.2 mM glucose. Addition of glucose (16.7 mM) suppressed (45)Ca efflux by 30%. Removal of glucose caused an "off response" of insulin release. The perifusion of a normal concentration of Ca (2.3 mM) greatly stimulated (45)Ca efflux, indicating Ca <--> (45)Ca exchange. When Ca and glucose were superimposed, the effects on (45)Ca efflux and insulin release depended upon the order of presentation of the stimuli: when Ca was added to an ongoing 16.7-mM glucose perifusion, biphasic patterns of (45)Ca and insulin release were seen; when glucose was superimposed on a Ca perifusion, an inhibition of the Ca-stimulated (45)Ca efflux occurred, and a reduced but clearly biphasic insulin response was seen. The subsequent insulin off response after with-drawal of the glucose was also reduced. Mathematical "peeling" of (45)Ca efflux curves from unstimulated islets suggests that there are at least two, and probably three, different intracellular Ca compartments (not including the extracellular sucrose space). At the beginning of perifusion, these three compartments (I, II, III) contain 25, 56, and 19% of the intracellular (45)Ca, and their rates of efflux are 6.7, 1.2, and 0.1%/min, respectively. Glucose appears to suppress efflux from the largest compartment (II); Ca appears to exchange with (45)Ca from a more inert compartment (III). The relationship between insulin and (45)Ca release is not stoichiometric.

Effects of synaptic plasma membranes on release of acetylcholine from synaptic vesicles

The influences of synaptic plasma membranes on release of acetylcholine (ACh) from synaptic vesicles isolated from rat brain were examined. In the presence of ATP, Mg++ and Ca++ but absence of cytoplasm from the nerve endings, the synaptic plasma membranes did not increase ACh release indicating absence of a stimulating factor which is known to be present in the cytoplasm. In presence of ATP, Mg++, Ca++ and the cytoplasm, the synaptic plasma membranes inhibited ACh release from the synaptic vesicles in high K+ medium, though not in high Na+ medium. Binding of Ca++ by the synaptic plasma membranes was dependent on ATP, inhibited by Na+ and stimulated by K+. Thus, the synaptic plasma membranes may inhibit ACh release in high K+ medium due to reduction in the concentration of free Ca++.

'Electrochemical stimulation' of the hypothalamus--a demonstration that this technique does not cause the direct excitation of peptidergic neurones [proceedings]

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Phosphoenolpyruvate in rat pancreatic islets: a possible intracellular trigger of insulin release?

The content of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) has been measured in isolated rat islets of Langerhans incubated in vitro. Islet PEP was higher in islets incubated with 16.7 mmol/1 glucose than in islets incubated with zero or 2.8 mmol/1 glucose. Islet PEP content was also increased in islet incubated with 5 mmol/1 D-glyceraldehyde. Mannoheptulose abolished the glucose-induced rise in PEP content but not that elicited by D-glyceraldehyde. These results are consistent with a role for PEP as an intracellular mediator or glucose- and glyceraldehyde-induced insulin release. The kinetics of pyruvate kinase in extracts of rat islets were studied. The maximal extractable activity was considerably higher than known rates of glycolytic flux. The Km values were found to be 0.16 mmol/1 for PEP and 0.5 mmol/1 for ADP. The control of islet PEP content and the possible role of PEP in insulin release are discussed.

An in vitro system for studying insulin release: effects of glucose and glucose-6-phosphate

1. Investigation of the ionic requirements of the in vitro insulin release system, which consists of cod islet plasma membrane and rabbit islet granules incubated at pH 6.5, showed that the presence of Ca(2+) was obligatory for the system to operate.2. Glucose-initiated insulin release was as effective in the presence of beta-gamma-methylene ATP, as it was in the presence of ATP. This analogue of ATP is a substrate neither for adenylate cyclase nor for any known animal membrane proteases. The effect of ATP on glucose mediated release is allosteric.3. Glucose (16 mM)-initiated insulin release was slower than that induced by glucose-6-phosphate (4 mM); 150 and 120 sec, respectively.4. The lag found with glucose-mediated insulin release was dependent upon glucose concentration. The lower the glucose concentration, the longer the lag. With 1 mM glucose the lag extended to 30 min.5. Once insulin release was initiated, the rate and amount of insulin release was independent of the glucose concentration.6. Pre-incubation of membranes with Ca(2+), glucose and ATP prior to the addition of granules, abolished the extended lag that had been obtained with 1 mM glucose. Events in the plasma membrane are the major contributor to the generation of the extended lag.7. The glucose analogue 5'thio-D-glucose, although not able to release insulin, was shown to compete with glucose for the glucoreceptor. By increasing the ratio of analogue to glucose the lag time increased. Thus, the lag time is dependent upon the ;effective' external glucose concentration.8. The max. amount of insulin released by 4 ng of membrane in the presence of glucose (16 mM) was 300 ng. The fact that membranes became refractory to glucose after this max. amount of insulin was released showed that recycling of release sites was not taking place in vitro and that granule: granule interactions were not occurring.9. The 120 sec lag before glucose-6-phosphate-initiated release was independent of glucose-6-phosphate concentration. The rate of insulin release with glucose-6-phosphate was concentration dependent.10. Glucose-6-phosphate did not cause further insulin release from a membrane that had released the max. amount of insulin it was capable of in the presence of glucose. The addition of tolbutamide (10 mM) to such a membrane did cause insulin release. This suggests that glucose and glucose-6-phosphate share a final common pathway.11. Adrenaline and somatostatin did not inhibit glucose-mediated insulin release.