Microtubules and Gαo-signaling modulate the preferential secretion of young insulin secretory granules in islet β cells via independent pathways

PLoS One. 2021 Jul 22;16(7):e0241939. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241939. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

For sustainable function, each pancreatic islet β cell maintains thousands of insulin secretory granules (SGs) at all times. Glucose stimulation induces the secretion of a small portion of these SGs and simultaneously boosts SG biosynthesis to sustain this stock. The failure of these processes, often induced by sustained high-insulin output, results in type 2 diabetes. Intriguingly, young insulin SGs are more likely secreted during glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) for unknown reasons, while older SGs tend to lose releasability and be degraded. Here, we examine the roles of microtubule (MT) and Gαo-signaling in regulating the preferential secretion of young versus old SGs. We show that both MT-destabilization and Gαo inactivation results in more SGs localization near plasma membrane (PM) despite higher levels of GSIS and reduced SG biosynthesis. Intriguingly, MT-destabilization or Gαo-inactivation results in higher secretion probabilities of older SGs, while combining both having additive effects on boosting GSIS. Lastly, Gαo inactivation does not detectably destabilize the β-cell MT network. These findings suggest that Gαo and MT can modulate the preferential release of younger insulin SGs via largely parallel pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Senescence
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / metabolism*
  • Glucose / pharmacology
  • Insulin Secretion* / drug effects
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / cytology
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / drug effects
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Nocodazole / pharmacology
  • Secretory Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go
  • Glucose
  • Nocodazole