Interaction of ATP sensor, cAMP sensor, Ca2+ sensor, and voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel in insulin granule exocytosis

ATP, cAMP, and Ca2+ are the major signals in the regulation of insulin granule exocytosis in pancreatic beta cells. The sensors and regulators of these signals have been characterized individually. The ATP-sensitive K+ channel, acting as the ATP sensor, couples cell metabolism to membrane potential. cAMP-GEFII, acting as a cAMP sensor, mediates cAMP-dependent, protein kinase A-independent exocytosis, which requires interaction with both Piccolo as a Ca2+ sensor and Rim2 as a Rab3 effector. L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) regulate Ca2+ influx. In the present study, we demonstrate interactions of these molecules. Sulfonylurea receptor 1, a subunit of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, interacts specifically with cAMP-GEFII through nucleotide-binding fold 1, and the interaction is decreased by a high concentration of cAMP. Localization of cAMP-GEFII overlaps with that of Rim2 in plasma membrane of insulin-secreting MIN6 cells. Localization of Rab3 coincides with that of Rim2. Rim2 mutant lacking the Rab3 binding region, when overexpressed in MIN6 cells, is localized exclusively in cytoplasm, and impairs cAMP-dependent exocytosis in MIN6 cells. In addition, Rim2 and Piccolo bind directly to the alpha(1) 1.2- subunit of VDCC. These results indicate that ATP sensor, cAMP sensor, Ca2+ sensor, and VDCC interact with each other, which further suggests that ATP, cAMP, and Ca2+ signals in insulin granule exocytosis are integrated in a specialized domain of pancreatic beta cells to facilitate stimulus-secretion coupling.