Voltage-gated K؉ (Kv) 2.1 is the dominant Kv channel that controls membrane repolarization in rat islet ␤-cells and downstream insulin exocytosis. We recently showed that exocytotic SNARE protein SNAP-25 directly binds and modulates rat islet ␤-cell Kv 2.1 channel protein at the cytoplasmic N terminus. We now show that SNARE protein syntaxin 1A (Syn-1A) binds and modulates rat islet ␤-cell Kv2.1 at its cytoplasmic C terminus (Kv2.1C). In HEK293 cells overexpressing Kv2.1, we observed identical effects of channel inhibition by dialyzed GST-Syn-1A, which could be blocked by Kv2.1C domain proteins (C1: amino acids 412-633, C2: amino acids 634 -853), but not the Kv2.1 cytoplasmic N terminus (amino acids 1-182). This was confirmed by direct binding of GST-Syn-1A to the Kv2.1C1 and C2 domains proteins. These findings are in contrast to our recent report showing that Syn-1A binds and modulates the cytoplasmic N terminus of neuronal Kv1.1 and not by its C terminus. Co-expression of Syn-1A in Kv2.1-expressing HEK293 cells inhibited Kv2.1 surfacing, which caused a reduction of Kv2.1 current density. In addition, Syn-1A caused a slowing of Kv2.1 current activation and reduction in the slope factor of steady-state inactivation, but had no affect on inactivation kinetics or voltage dependence of activation. Taken together, SNAP-25 and Syn-1A mediate secretion not only through its participation in the exocytotic SNARE complex, but also by regulating membrane potential and calcium entry through their interaction with Kv and Ca 2؉ channels. In contrast to Ca 2؉ channels, where these SNARE proteins act on a common synprint site, the SNARE proteins act not only on distinct sites within a Kv channel, but also on distinct sites between different Kv channel families.

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We recently reported a transgenic [mouse insulin promoter (MIP)-green fluorescent protein (GFP)] mouse in which GFP expression is targeted to the pancreatic islet beta-cells to enable convenient identification of beta-cells as green cells. The GFP-expressing beta-cells of the MIP-GFP mouse were functionally indistinguishable from beta-cells of normal mice. Here we characterized the ionic channel properties and exocytosis of MIP-GFP mouse islet beta- and alpha-cells. Beta-cells displayed delayed rectifying K+ and high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels and exhibited Na+ currents only at hyperpolarized holding potential. Alpha-cells were nongreen and had both A-type and delayed rectifier K+ channels, both low-voltage-activated and high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels, and displayed Na+ currents readily at -70 mV holding potential. Alpha-cells had ATP-sensitive K+ channel (KATP) channel density as high as that in beta-cells, and, surprisingly, alpha-cell KATP channels were more sensitive to ATP inhibition (IC50=0.16+/-0.03 mM) than beta-cell KATP channels (IC50=0.86+/-0.10 mM). Whereas alpha-cells were rather uniform in size [2-4.5 picofarad (pF)], beta-cells varied vastly in size (2-12 pF). Of note, small beta-cells (<4.5 pF) showed little exocytosis, whereas medium beta-cells (5-8 pF) exhibited vigorous exocytosis, but large beta-cells (>8 pF) had weaker exocytosis. We found no correlation between beta-cell size and their Ca2+ channel density, suggesting that Ca2+ influx may not be the cause of the heterogeneity in exocytotic responses. The MIP-GFP mouse therefore offers potential to further explore the functional heterogeneity in beta-cells of different sizes. The MIP-GFP mouse islet is therefore a reliable model to efficiently examine alpha-cell and beta-cell physiology and should greatly facilitate examination of their pathophysiology when the MIP-GFP mice are crossed with diabetic models.

Accumulating evidence suggests that the pathophysiology of depression might be associated with neuroinflammation, which could be attenuated by pharmacological treatment for depression. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are anti-inflammatory and exert antidepressant effects. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular mechanisms through which docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the main omega-3 PUFA in the brain, modulates oxidative reactions and inflammatory cytokine production in microglial and neuronal cells. The results of this study showed that DHA reduced expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, nitric oxide synthase, and cyclo-oxygenase-2, induced by interferon-γ, and induced upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in BV-2 microglia. The inhibitory effect of DHA on nitric oxide production was abolished by HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX. In addition, DHA caused AKT and ERK activation in a time-dependent manner, and the DHA-induced HO-1 upregulation could be attenuated by PI-3 kinase/AKT and MEK/ERK inhibitors. DHA also increased IKKα/β phosphorylation, IκBα phosphorylation, and IκBα degradation, whereas both nuclear factor-κB and IκB protease inhibitors could inhibit DHA-induced HO-1 expressions. The other major n-3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid, showed similar effects of DHA on inflammation and HO-1 in repeated key experiments. In connecting with inflammation hypothesis of depression and clinical studies supporting the antidepressant effects of omega-3 PUFAs, this study provides a novel implication of the antidepressant mechanisms of DHA.

The three SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins, syntaxin, SNAP25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa), and synaptobrevin, constitute the minimal machinery for exocytosis in secretory cells such as neurons and neuroendocrine cells by forming a series of complexes prior to and during vesicle fusion. It was subsequently found that these SNARE proteins not only participate in vesicle fusion, but also tether with voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels to form an excitosome that precisely regulates calcium entry at the site of exocytosis. In pancreatic islet beta-cells, ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channel closure by high ATP concentration leads to membrane depolarization, voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel opening, and insulin secretion, whereas subsequent opening of voltage-gated K(+) (Kv) channels repolarizes the cell to terminate exocytosis. We have obtained evidence that syntaxin-1A physically interacts with Kv2.1 (the predominant Kv in beta-cells) and the sulfonylurea receptor subunit of beta-cell K(ATP) channel to modify their gating behaviors. A model has proposed that the conformational changes of syntaxin-1A during exocytosis induce distinct functional modulations of K(ATP) and Kv2.1 channels in a manner that optimally regulates cell excitability and insulin secretion. Other proteins involved in exocytosis, such as Munc-13, tomosyn, rab3a-interacting molecule, and guanyl nucleotide exchange factor II, have also been implicated in direct or indirect regulation of beta-cell ion channel activities and excitability. This review discusses this interesting aspect that exocytotic proteins not only promote secretion per se, but also fine-tune beta-cell excitability via modulation of ion channel gating.