Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026

Preparation of Pancreatic Acinar Cells for the Purpose of Calcium Imaging, Cell Injury Measurements, and Adenoviral Infection
Published on: July 5, 2013
Kinesin is involved in regulation of rat pancreatic amylase secretion
N Ueda1, H Ohnishi, C Kanamaru
1Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Background & Aims:
Kinesin has recently been localized to zymogen granules of pancreatic acini and is suggested to participate in exocytosis of exocrine pancreas. We examined the function of kinesin in regulated exocytosis of pancreatic acini in this study.
Methods:
Kinesin function in exocytosis was examined by introducing hexahistidine-tagged recombinant kinesin protein and antikinesin monoclonal antibody into streptolysin-O-permeabilized acini. Intracellular localization of introduced recombinant kinesin was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Interaction between recombinant kinesin and the microtubule network was confirmed by nocodazole pretreatment of acini. Kinesin regulation by secretagogues was investigated by examining their effect on adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of endogenous kinesin.
Results:
Recombinant kinesin enhanced calcium-stimulated amylase release from streptolysin-O-permeabilized acini. Introduced recombinant kinesin was localized to both the microtubule network and zymogen granule. Nocodazole pretreatment of acini abolished the enhancing effect of recombinant kinesin on calcium-stimulated amylase release. Antikinesin antibody inhibited amylase release stimulated by the combination of calcium and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) but not that stimulated by calcium alone. Secretin and 8-bromo-cAMP increased ATPase activity of endogenous kinesin.
Conclusions:
Kinesin plays a stimulatory role in regulated exocytosis of pancreatic acini and is involved in stimulus-secretion coupling through a cAMP-dependent pathway.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Secretory Vesicles
Various proteins regulate the aggregation of molecules inside the secretory vesicles. Chromogranins...
The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles
Insulin Secretory Vesicles
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways
Pancreatic Juice and Secretion
When acidic chyme from the stomach enters the duodenum, it triggers the release of secretin, a hormone that prompts pancreatic juice secretion. After a fatty meal, cholecystokinin, another hormone, stimulates gallbladder contraction and enhances enzyme-rich...
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
Insulin and C-peptide are...

