Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Leprdb Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes: Pancreatic Islet Isolation and Live-cell 2-Photon Imaging Of Intact Islets
10:09

Leprdb Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes: Pancreatic Islet Isolation and Live-cell 2-Photon Imaging Of Intact Islets

Published on: May 11, 2015

9.6K

Drp1 Overexpression Decreases Insulin Content in Pancreatic MIN6 Cells

Uma D Kabra1,2, Noah Moruzzi3, Per-Olof Berggren3

  • 1Division of Metabolic Diseases, Technische Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|October 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Overexpressing the mitochondrial fission regulator Drp1 in pancreatic beta cells improves insulin secretion triggering but unexpectedly reduces insulin content, highlighting potential therapeutic caution.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Metabolic Regulation
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Mitochondrial dynamics are crucial for insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells.
  • Previous work showed impaired insulin secretion due to disrupted glucose-induced mitochondrial fission.
  • The role of the fission regulator Drp1 in insulin secretion requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of overexpressing the mitochondrial fission regulator Drp1 on insulin secretion in MIN6 cells.
  • To determine if Drp1 overexpression can rescue or improve insulin secretion.
  • To explore potential off-target effects of Drp1 manipulation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized MIN6 cell lines with Drp1 manipulation (overexpression and knockdown).
  • Assessed insulin secretion, glucose catabolism, and mitochondrial metabolism.
  • Analyzed the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes.

Main Results:

  • Drp1 overexpression partially improved insulin secretion triggering in Drp1-knockdown cells.
  • No adverse effects on mitochondrial metabolism were observed in wildtype MIN6 cells.
  • Constitutive Drp1 presence unexpectedly impaired insulin content and reduced overall secreted insulin, linked to upregulated ER stress genes (BiP, Chop, Hsp60).

Conclusions:

  • Drp1 plays a vital role in the energy coupling of insulin secretion.
  • Drp1 overexpression has unintended negative effects on insulin content, potentially via ER stress pathways.
  • Caution is advised when considering Drp1 manipulation for therapeutic strategies targeting diabetes.
Keywords:
MIN6 cellbioenergeticsdynamin-related protein 1glucose-stimulated insulin secretioninsulin contentoverexpression

More Related Videos

Surgical Injury to the Mouse Pancreas through Ligation of the Pancreatic Duct as a Model for Endocrine and Exocrine Reprogramming and Proliferation07:44

Surgical Injury to the Mouse Pancreas through Ligation of the Pancreatic Duct as a Model for Endocrine and Exocrine Reprogramming and Proliferation

Published on: August 7, 2015

16.3K
A High-content In Vitro Pancreatic Islet β-cell Replication Discovery Platform09:35

A High-content In Vitro Pancreatic Islet β-cell Replication Discovery Platform

Published on: July 16, 2016

11.2K

Related Concept Videos

Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion01:27

Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion

The pancreatic islets comprising only 1%-2% of the volume are highly vascularized and innervated mini-organs. They contain five endocrine cell types, including β cells that secrete insulin, which is synthesized as a single polypeptide chain, preproinsulin, processed to proinsulin, and finally to insulin and C-peptide. This process is complex and regulated, involving the Golgi complex, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the secretory granules of the β cell.
Insulin and C-peptide are...
1.4K
Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation01:25

Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of pancreatic β-cells synthesizes preproinsulin, which consists of a signal peptide, A and B chains, and a C-peptide. Preproinsulin is then cleaved and folded into proinsulin, which translocates to the Golgi apparatus for sorting and packaging into secretory granules. In these granules, enzymatic clipping generates insulin and C-peptide.
Damage or functional impairment of β-cells inhibits insulin production, leading to diabetes. Diabetes treatment...
477
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
13.7K
Insulin Secretory Vesicles01:05

Insulin Secretory Vesicles

Insulin secretory vesicles release insulin to stimulate blood glucose uptake and regulate carbohydrate metabolism. When the blood glucose levels increase, glucose enters the pancreatic β-islet cells through glucose transporters. Once inside, glucose is metabolized through glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain, producing ATP. This increase in ATP concentration closes ATP-sensitive potassium channels, leading to depolarization of the membrane and the opening of...
5.2K