The human innate immunity factor apolipoprotein L-I (APOL1) protects against infection by several protozoan parasites, including Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Endocytosis and acidification of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated APOL1 in trypanosome endosomes leads to eventual lysis of the parasite due to increased plasma membrane cation permeability, followed by colloid-osmotic swelling. It was previously shown that recombinant APOL1 inserts into planar lipid bilayers at acidic pH to form pH-gated non-selective cation channels that are opened upon pH neutralization. This corresponds to the pH changes encountered during endocytic-recycling, suggesting APOL1 forms a cytotoxic cation channel in the parasite plasma membrane. Currently, the mechanism and domains required for channel formation have yet to be elucidated, although a predicted Helix-Loop-Helix (H-L-H) was suggested to form pores by virtue of its similarity to bacterial pore-forming colicins. Here, we compare recombinant human and baboon APOL1 orthologs, along with inter-species chimeras and individual amino acid substitutions, to identify regions required for channel formation and pH gating in planar lipid bilayers. We found that while neutralization of glutamates within the H-L-H may be important for pH-dependent channel formation, there was no evidence of H-L-H involvement in either pH gating or ion selectivity. In contrast, we found two residues in the C-terminal domain (CTD), tyrosine-351 and glutamate-355, that influence pH gating properties, as well as a single residue, aspartate-348, which determines both cation selectivity and pH gating. These data point to the predicted transmembrane region closest to the APOL1 C-terminus as the pore-lining segment of this novel channel-forming protein.

Key points Tetraspanin (TSPAN) proteins regulate many biological processes, including intracellular calcium (Ca2+) handling. TSPAN‐7 is enriched in pancreatic islet cells; however, the function of islet TSPAN‐7 has not been identified. Here, we characterize how β‐cell TSPAN‐7 regulates Ca2+ handling and hormone secretion. We find that TSPAN‐7 reduces β‐cell glucose‐stimulated Ca2+ entry, slows Ca2+ oscillation frequency and decreases glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion. TSPAN‐7 controls β‐cell function through a direct interaction with L‐type voltage‐dependent Ca2+ channels (CaV1.2 and CaV1.3), which reduces channel Ca2+ conductance. TSPAN‐7 slows activation of CaV1.2 and accelerates recovery from voltage‐dependent inactivation; TSPAN‐7 also slows CaV1.3 inactivation kinetics. These findings strongly implicate TSPAN‐7 as a key regulator in determining the set‐point of glucose‐stimulated Ca2+ influx and insulin secretion. Abstract Glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) is regulated by calcium (Ca2+) entry into pancreatic β‐cells through voltage‐dependent Ca2+ (CaV) channels. Tetraspanin (TSPAN) transmembrane proteins control Ca2+ handling, and thus they may also modulate GSIS. TSPAN‐7 is the most abundant islet TSPAN and immunostaining of mouse and human pancreatic slices shows that TSPAN‐7 is highly expressed in β‐ and α‐cells; however, the function of islet TSPAN‐7 has not been determined. Here, we show that TSPAN‐7 knockdown (KD) increases glucose‐stimulated Ca2+ influx into mouse and human β‐cells. Additionally, mouse β‐cell Ca2+ oscillation frequency was accelerated by TSPAN‐7 KD. Because TSPAN‐7 KD also enhanced Ca2+ entry when membrane potential was clamped with depolarization, the effect of TSPAN‐7 on CaV channel activity was examined. TSPAN‐7 KD enhanced L‐type CaV currents in mouse and human β‐cells. Conversely, heterologous expression of TSPAN‐7 with CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 L‐type CaV channels decreased CaV currents and reduced Ca2+ influx through both channels. This was presumably the result of a direct interaction of TSPAN‐7 and L‐type CaV channels because TSPAN‐7 coimmunoprecipitated with both CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 from primary human β‐cells and from a heterologous expression system. Finally, TSPAN‐7 KD in human β‐cells increased basal (5.6 mM glucose) and stimulated (45 mM KCl + 14 mM glucose) insulin secretion. These findings strongly suggest that TSPAN‐7 modulation of β‐cell L‐type CaV channels is a key determinant of β‐cell glucose‐stimulated Ca2+ entry and thus the set‐point of GSIS.

Objective Elevations in pancreatic α-cell intracellular Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ] i ) lead to glucagon (GCG) secretion. Although glucose inhibits GCG secretion, how lactate and pyruvate control α-cell Ca 2+ handling is unknown. Lactate enters cells through monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) and is also produced during glycolysis by lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), an enzyme expressed in α-cells. As lactate activates ATP-sensitive K + (K ATP ) channels in cardiomyocytes, lactate may also modulate α-cell K ATP . Therefore, this study investigated how lactate signaling controls α-cell Ca 2+ handling and GCG secretion. Methods Mouse and human islets were used in combination with confocal microscopy, electrophysiology, GCG immunoassays, and fluorescent thallium flux assays to assess α-cell Ca 2+ handling, V m , K ATP currents, and GCG secretion. Results Lactate-inhibited mouse (75 ± 25%) and human (47 ± 9%) α-cell [Ca 2+ ] i fluctuations only under low-glucose conditions (1 mM) but had no effect on β- or δ-cells [Ca 2+ ] i . Glyburide inhibition of K ATP channels restored α-cell [Ca 2+ ] i fluctuations in the presence of lactate. Lactate transport into α-cells via MCTs hyperpolarized mouse (14 ± 1 mV) and human (12 ± 1 mV) α-cell V m and activated K ATP channels. Interestingly, pyruvate showed a similar K ATP activation profile and α-cell [Ca 2+ ] i inhibition as lactate. Lactate-induced inhibition of α-cell [Ca 2+ ] i influx resulted in reduced GCG secretion in mouse (62 ± 6%) and human (43 ± 13%) islets. Conclusions These data demonstrate for the first time that lactate entry into α-cells through MCTs results in K ATP activation, V m hyperpolarization, reduced [Ca 2+ ] i , and inhibition of GCG secretion. Thus, taken together, these data indicate that lactate either within α-cells and/or elevated in serum could serve as important modulators of α-cell function.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a heterogeneous group of monogenic disorders of impaired pancreatic β-cell function. One of the mechanisms results from β-cell K ATP channel dysfunction (e.g., KCNJ11 (MODY13) or ABCC8 (MODY12) mutations); however, no other β-cell channelopathies have been identified in MODY. We identified a previously unreported non-synonymous coding variant in KCNK16 (NM_001135105: c.341T>C, p.Leu114Pro) segregating with MODY. KCNK16 is the most abundant and -cell-restricted K + channel transcript and encodes the two-pore-domain K + channel TALK-1. Wholecell K + currents demonstrated a large gain-of-function with TALK-1 Leu114Pro vs. WT, due to greater single channel activity. Glucose-stimulated membrane potential depolarization and Ca 2+ influx was inhibited in mouse islets expressing TALK-1 Leu114Pro (area under the Ca 2+ curve [AUC] at 20mM glucose: Leu114Pro 60.1 vs. WT 89.1; P=0.030) with less endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ storage (cyclopiazonic acid-induced release AUC: Leu114Pro 17.5 vs. WT 46.8; P=0.008). TALK-1 Leu114Pro significantly blunted glucosestimulated insulin secretion compared to TALK-1 WT in mouse (52% decrease, P=0.039) and human (38% decrease, P=0.019) islets. These data suggest KCNK16 is a previously unreported gene for MODY.