G-protein betagamma-binding domains regulate insulin exocytosis in clonal pancreatic beta-cells

We have tested the putative role of G-protein beta-subunits in insulin exocytosis by transient expression of betagamma-binding proteins targeted to the plasma membrane. The PH domain of the G-protein-linked receptor kinase 2 fused to the transmembrane domain of a cell surface receptor and the alpha-subunit of the retinal G-protein transducin inhibited stimulated insulin release from intact and permeabilised HIT-T15 cells. This effect cannot be imputed to an increase in free Galpha, as the RGS protein RGS3 did not reverse this effect. Among the isoforms of Gbeta examined, Gbeta2 was detected on the plasma membrane by confocal immunomicroscopy. These observations suggest a role for G-protein betagamma-subunits in insulin exocytosis.