Rim2α Determines Docking and Priming States in Insulin Granule Exocytosis

Insulin secretion is essential for maintenance of glucose homeostasis, but the mechanism of insulin granule exocytosis, the final step of insulin secretion, is largely unknown. Here, we investigated the role of Rim2 alpha in insulin granule exocytosis, including the docking, priming, and fusion steps. We found that interaction of Rim2 alpha and Rab3A is required for docking, which is considered a brake on fusion events, and that docking is necessary for K+-induced exocytosis, but not for glucose-induced exocytosis. Furthermore, we found that dissociation of the Rim2 alpha/Munc13-1 complex by glucose stimulation activates Syntaxin1 by Munc13-1, indicating that Rim2 alpha primes insulin granules for fusion. Thus, Rim2 alpha determines docking and priming states in insulin granule exocytosis depending on its interacting partner, Rab3A or Munc13-1, respectively. Because Rim2 alpha(-/-) mice exhibit impaired secretion of various hormones stored as dense-core granules, including glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, growth hormone, and epinephrine, Rim2 alpha plays a critical role in exocytosis of these dense-core granules.