Rab27a: a new face in β cell metabolism-secretion coupling
J. Clin. Invest. Toru Aizawa, et al. 115:227 doi:10.1172/JCI24269 [Go to this article.]

Figure 1
Metabolism-secretion coupling within the pancreatic β cell. (A and B) Elevation of ATP and ATP/ADP is the starting point for K_ATP channel–dependent signaling, which has been well elucidated, as shown here (6). Owing to [Ca²⁺]_i elevation, fusion of β granules in the RRP and the plasma membrane takes place, and this results in the first phase of glucose-induced insulin secretion. The molecular basis for K_ATP channel–independent signaling (B) is not fully characterized. The end point of this signaling is expansion and/or replenishment of the RRP, after which a second phase occurs in which insulin release gradually increases. Upon glucose stimulation, K_ATP channel–dependent and –independent events take place. When an experimental protocol to detect time-dependent potentiation is employed (16, 17), expansion of the RRP can be quantified. Membrane fusion of the β granules in the RRP is required and sufficient for first-phase insulin release, and, in addition, expansion and/or replenishment of the RRP is required for second phase release (see Figure 2). As shown in A, as a result of anaplerosis (2), increased citrate flux (2) and/or activation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) (3) occurs, which results in expansion and/or replenishment of the RRP via the series of events indicated (10–12). Cytosolic flux of glutamate, by virtue of its uptake by β granules, sensitizes the granules for fusion (15). Activation of phospholipase C (PLC), PKC, or an increase in inositol trisphosphate (IP₃) (4) and liberation of stored Ca²⁺ (13) also yield expansion and/or replenishment. ATP itself (14) and elevation of ATP/ADP (9) are also involved in this process. In this issue of the JCI, Kasai et al. (1) report that Rab27a plays a critical role in replenishment of the RRP. CPT1, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1; L-VDCC, L-type voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channel.