Munc18b is a major mediator of insulin exocytosis in rat pancreatic β-cells

Diabetes. 2013 Jul;62(7):2416-28. doi: 10.2337/db12-1380. Epub 2013 Feb 19.

Abstract

Sec1/Munc18 proteins facilitate the formation of trans-SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) complexes that mediate fusion of secretory granule (SG) with plasma membrane (PM). The capacity of pancreatic β-cells to exocytose insulin becomes compromised in diabetes. β-Cells express three Munc18 isoforms of which the role of Munc18b is unknown. We found that Munc18b depletion in rat islets disabled SNARE complex formation formed by syntaxin (Syn)-2 and Syn-3. Two-photon imaging analysis revealed in Munc18b-depleted β-cells a 40% reduction in primary exocytosis (SG-PM fusion) and abrogation of almost all sequential SG-SG fusion, together accounting for a 50% reduction in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). In contrast, gain-of-function expression of Munc18b wild-type and, more so, dominant-positive K314L/R315L mutant promoted the assembly of cognate SNARE complexes, which caused potentiation of biphasic GSIS. We found that this was attributed to a more than threefold enhancement of both primary exocytosis and sequential SG-SG fusion, including long-chain fusion (6-8 SGs) not normally (2-3 SG fusion) observed. Thus, Munc18b-mediated exocytosis may be deployed to increase secretory efficiency of SGs in deeper cytosolic layers of β-cells as well as additional primary exocytosis, which may open new avenues of therapy development for diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Exocytosis / physiology*
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Munc18 Proteins / genetics
  • Munc18 Proteins / metabolism*
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins / genetics
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Secretory Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Syntaxin 1 / genetics
  • Syntaxin 1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Munc18 Proteins
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins
  • Syntaxin 1