Hamster Insulinoma Cells Research Articles

Insulin-secretory-granule specific T cell clones in human IDDM.

T cell clones reactive to beta-cell antigens prepared from different species were established in order to identify putative pathogenic T cells in human IDDM. We were able to generate T cell clones from patients, but not from controls, reactive specifically to the insulin secretory enriched fraction (ISG) of a rat insulinoma RIN cell line. This finding is suggestive of an in vivo priming by the antigen(s). To examine the relevance of these T cell clones in the pathogenesis of IDDM, we studied their cytokine profile. T cell clones from the newly onset patients had a Th1 cytokine profile, while those from the prediabetic patient were of the Th2 subtype. This segregation suggests that RIN-ISG contains antigen(s) involved in the pathogenesis of this disease, since IDDM is considered a cell-mediated or Th1 disease. Since two of these clones also responded to a hamster insulinoma cell line HIT, at least two antigens in RIN-ISG could be defined by this panel of T cell clones. Examination of CDR3 sequences confirmed the clonality of the dual-reactive T cell clones. The finding of HIT-reactive cells in IDDM patients may be useful in efforts to identify prediabetic patients for immune intervention. Dual reactivity may provide a better prognosis than single reactivity. In contrast to T cell clones reactive to insulinomas, T cell clones reactive to normal human ISG were not found after over 200 clones were screened. In addition, RIN-ISG specific clones did not respond to either normal human or rat ISG, suggesting that IDDM antigens are below detectable levels in normal beta cells.

BZP, a Novel Serum-Responsive Zinc Finger Protein That Inhibits Gene Transcription

We report the fortuitous isolation of cDNA clones encoding a novel zinc finger DNA-binding protein termed BZP. The protein encoded is 114 kDa and contains eight zinc finger motifs, seven of which are present in two clusters at opposite ends of the molecule. Both finger clusters bound to the 9-bp sequence AAAGGTGCA with apparent Kds of approximately 2.5 nM. Two of the finger motifs within the amino- and carboxy-terminal finger clusters share 63% amino acid identity. BZP inhibited transcription of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter when copies of the 9-bp target motif were linked in cis, suggesting that it functions as a transcriptional repressor. BZP mRNA and immunoreactivity were detected in several established cell lines but were most abundant in hamster insulinoma (HIT) cells, the parental source of the cDNAs. In mouse tissues, BZP mRNA and immunoreactivity were identified in cells of the endocrine pancreas, anterior pituitary, and central nervous system. Interestingly, in HIT cells proliferating in culture, BZP immunoreactivity was predominately nuclear in location, whereas it was usually located in the cytoplasm in most neural and neuroendocrine tissues. Serum deprivation of HIT cells caused BZP immunoreactivity to become predominantly cytoplasmic in location and attenuated its inhibitory effect on transcription, thereby suggesting that the both the subcellular location and the function of this protein are modulated by factors in serum.

BZP, a novel serum-responsive zinc finger protein that inhibits gene transcription.

We report the fortuitous isolation of cDNA clones encoding a novel zinc finger DNA-binding protein termed BZP. The protein encoded is 114 kDa and contains eight zinc finger motifs, seven of which are present in two clusters at opposite ends of the molecule. Both finger clusters bound to the 9-bp sequence AAAGGTGCA with apparent Kds of approximately 2.5 nM. Two of the finger motifs within the amino- and carboxy-terminal finger clusters share 63% amino acid identity. BZP inhibited transcription of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter when copies of the 9-bp target motif were linked in cis, suggesting that it functions as a transcriptional repressor. BZP mRNA and immunoreactivity were detected in several established cell lines but were most abundant in hamster insulinoma (HIT) cells, the parental source of the cDNAs. In mouse tissues, BZP mRNA and immunoreactivity were identified in cells of the endocrine pancreas, anterior pituitary, and central nervous system. Interestingly, in HIT cells proliferating in culture, BZP immunoreactivity was predominately nuclear in location, whereas it was usually located in the cytoplasm in most neural and neuroendocrine tissues. Serum deprivation of HIT cells caused BZP immunoreactivity to become predominantly cytoplasmic in location and attenuated its inhibitory effect on transcription, thereby suggesting that the both the subcellular location and the function of this protein are modulated by factors in serum.

Two distinct class A helix-loop-helix transcription factors, E2A and BETA1, form separate DNA binding complexes on the insulin gene E box.

Mutations in the RIPE3a element have shown it to be crucial for efficient tissue-specific expression of the insulin gene. In order to isolate factors binding to this element, we used a labeled RIPE3 probe to screen an expression library derived from a hamster insulinoma cell line. We isolated a clone encoding beta-cell E-box transcriptional activator1 (BETA 1). This clone is a member of the class A subfamily of the helix-loop-helix superfamily of transcriptional activators, as determined both by sequence analysis and by functional association with a class B member (myogenin). This clone is related to, but distinct from, other clones isolated from the same library which are also capable of binding RIPE3a. Analysis showed these additional clones to be the hamster homologs of E12 and E47 (German, M. S., Blaner, M. A., Nelson, C., Moss, L. G., and Rutter, W. J. (1991) Mol. Endocrinol. 5, 292-299). Antibodies were raised against BETA 1 and against a common epitope of E12 and E47 to determine which proteins were contained in the native RIPE3a binding complex. Using these antibodies, we were able to separate the complex into major and minor fractions which contained either E12/47 or BETA 1, respectively. Thus, these two gene products are found in separate fractions of the tissue-specific binding activity and are therefore both likely to be important in insulin gene regulation.

Characterization of specific calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors present in hamster pancreatic beta cells.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) shares about 46% and 20% amino acid sequence homology with islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and salmon calcitonin (sCT). We investigated whether these related peptides could cross-react with the specific binding of 125I-[His]hCGRP I to the CGRP receptor in hamster insulinoma cell membranes. A rapid dissociation of membrane bound 125I-[His]hCGRP I could be induced in the presence of 1 microM chicken CGRP (cCGRP). The specific 125I-[His]hCGRP I binding was inhibited by the related peptides and their half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were: cCGRP (0.1 nM), rat CGRP I and human CGRP I and II (1.0-2.0 nM), fragment of hCGRP I (8-37) (150 nM), human IAPP (440 nM). The non-amidated form of hIAPP; human diabetes-associated peptide (hDAP) did not inhibit the binding of 125I-[His]hCGRP I and sCT was only effective at a high concentration (1 microM). Binding of 125I-[His]hCGRP I was dose dependently inhibited by guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) or (GTP gamma S) and a 70% reduction of binding was obtained with 0.1 mM GTP gamma S. The IC50 value of cCGRP (0.1 nM) was increased 100-fold in the presence of 0.1 mM GTP gamma S. Human CGRP I and cCGRP at 2.5 microM did not stimulate the activity of hamster insulinoma cell membranes adenylate cyclase, while glucagon (1 microM) induced a 2-fold increase. Thus, specific CGRP receptors present in hamster beta cells are associated with G protein (s) and IAPP can interact with these receptors. These results and the observation that cCGRP and hCGRP I did not influence adenylate cyclase activity provide further evidence for CGRP receptor subtypes.

Rapid uptake of calcium, ATP, and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate via cation and anion channels into surface-derived vesicles from HIT cells containing the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive calcium store

In a previous study [K. Lange and U. Brandt (1993) FEBS Lett. 320, 183-188], we showed that the bulk of the ATP-dependent IP 3-sensitive Ca 2+ store of the hamster insulinoma cell line, HIT-T15, resides in cell surface-derived vesicles most likely of microvillar origin. The origin and orientation of these vesicles suggested that Ca 2+ storage is not due to a membrane-located Ca 2+ pumping ATPase but rather to ATP-dependent Ca 2+-binding within the vesicles. In this case, Ca 2+, ATP and IP 3 should have free access to the vesicle lumen. This hypothesis was tested. ATP-independent Ca 2+ uptake occurred with biphasic kinetics. An initial rapid uptake, which was complete within 30 s, was followed by a slow linear uptake lasting about 10 min. The rapid component was shown by efflux experiments to have an equilibration half-time of about 4 s. This rapid Ca 2+ efflux pathway was inhibited by externally applied La 3+ (0.1 mM). A similar rapidly equilibrating La 3+-sensitive Ca 2+ pool was also present in vesicles which had been actively loaded with Ca 2+ in the presence of ATP. The intravesicular distribution space of this labile Ca 2+ pool was identical with that of the non-metabolizable hexose analogue 3- O-methyl-D-glucose, demonstrating that rapid Ca 2+ uptake occurs into a true vesicular water space and is not due to binding. ATP and IP 3 were also shown to enter the vesicles by an energy-independent pathway which is inhibited by the anion channel inhibitor, 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS; 0.5 mM). Both ATP-dependent Ca 2+ uptake and IP 3-induced Ca 2+ release from preloaded vesicles were inhibited by DIDS. These findings clearly demonstrate that (1) the vesicle membrane is permeable to ATP and IP 3 via anion channels, and (2) Ca 2+ uptake into as well as IP 3-induced Ca 2+ release from the vesicles occur by passive diffusion through a cation channel which is not regulated by IP 3. Consequently, the mechanisms for Ca 2+ storage and IP 3-induced Ca 2+ release must be located in the vesicle lumen. Moreover, the microvillar diffusion-barrier concept, originally proposed for the regulation of hexose transport may also be valid for the receptor-operated regulation of cation and anion influx pathways. Functional coupling of the microvillar Ca 2+ stores with the associated cation influx pathway is also strongly supported by the previously demonstrated microvillar shape changes accompanying depletion of the Ca 2+ stores by bombesin or thapsigargin in HIT cells [K. Lange and U. Brandt (1992) FEBS Lett. 320, 183-188].

The IP3-sensitive calcium store of HIT cells is located in a surface-derived vesicle fraction

Electron microscopic and biochemical techniques were used to study the cellular localization of the ATP-dependent, IP3-sensitive, Ca 2+ store in the glucose- and phosphatidylinositol(PI) agonist-sensitive hamster insulinoma cell line HIT-T15. Scanning electron microscopy revealed conspicuous shape changes of the microvilli following stimulation of these cells with bombesin or thapsigargin. These changes closely resemble those previously shown to accompany stimulation of hexose transport in adipocytes with insulin [J. Cell. Physiol. 142 (1990) 1-14]. Using a hydrodynamic shearing technique for the isolation of microvilli, two cell surface-derived vesicle fractions were prepared containing 80% of the total cellular Ca 2+-storing activity. In contrast, subcellular fractionation using normal homogenization with a glass/teflon homogenizer yielded the well-known distribution of the Ca 2+-storing activity which is then predominantly recovered within the microsomal fraction. The surface-derived vesicle fraction was clearly distinguished from the microsomal fraction by its high content of Na +/K +-ATPase and an immunoreactive fragment of the GluT-1 glucose transporter isoform which both are not detectable in the microsomal fraction isolated from homogenates from sheared cells. The Ca 2+ uptake properties of the cell surface-derived vesicle fractions including the vanadate, A23187, and thapsigargin sensitivity were found to be identical with those described for the microsomal Ca 2+ stores of various cell types. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) at 1 μM induced a maximal release of 35–40% of the stored Ca 2+ from these vesicles.

Stimulation of HIT-T15 insulinoma cells by glyceraldehyde does not require its metabolism.

The addition of the triose D-glyceraldehyde (5-20 mM) to HIT-T15 hamster insulinoma cells caused a rapid, marked depolarisation of the plasma membrane accompanied by a pronounced intracellular acidification, an increase in the cytosolic free calcium concentration [Ca2+]i and enhanced secretion of insulin. D-glyceraldehyde did not reduce the rate of efflux of 86Rb+ from loaded perifused cells. All of the above effects of D-glyceraldehyde were also observed in response to L-glyceraldehyde. The changes in membrane potential and intracellular pH (pHi) caused by D-glyceraldehyde were unaffected by the glycolytic inhibitor iodoacetate, by K(+)-channel blockers (tolbutamide and tetraethylammonium), or by inhibitors of the transport of lactate (alpha-fluorocinnamate), alanine (methylaminoisobutyrate) or glucose (phloretin, phlorrizin). The glyceraldehyde-induced depolarisation and acidification were also observed in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ or Na+. The increase in [Ca2+]i evoked by D-glyceraldehyde was reversed by removal of Ca2+ from the medium. The formation of lactate by HIT-T15 cells was not significantly increased by addition of 10 mM D-glyceraldehyde or L-glyceraldehyde. In contrast, 10 mM glucose caused an approximately fourfold rise in lactate production. The oxidation of D-glyceraldehyde by HIT-T15 cells was also extremely modest compared to glucose oxidation by these cells. These results suggest that the stimulation of HIT-T15 cells by either D-glyceraldehyde of L-glyceraldehyde does not require metabolism of the triose within the cell and may not involve closure of nucleotide-sensitive K+ channels. We propose that the electrogenic transport of glyceraldehyde across the plasma membrane, possibly via H+ cotransport, might lead to depolarisation and hence to Ca2+ entry into the cell.

Two 3',5'-cyclic-adenosine monophosphate response elements in the promoter region of the human gastric inhibitory polypeptide gene.

Transfection of chimeric chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmids containing various deletions of the human gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) promoter into hamster insulinoma (HIT T15) cells indicated that the region between -180 and +14 is sufficient for basal promoter activity. Two CRE-BP1 binding sites were identified in this promoter region by DNase I footprinting with the bacterially expressed cAMP response element (CRE) binding protein, CRE-BP1. Mutation analyses showed that these two CREs are required for the basal promoter activity, and furthermore that one site, at nucleotide-158, contributed mainly to the cAMP inducibility of the GIP promoter in HIT T15 cells. Interestingly, the GIP promoter activity was repressed by the c-jun proto-oncogene product, possibly through the CREs.

Characterization of a cDNA encoding the insulin gene GAGA-binding factor, Pur-I

Transcriptional regulation of the insulin gene is complex, in that it involves a variety of DNA sequence elements in the promoter which bind to proteins in vitro. Binding of proteins, called transcription factors, to their cognate nucleotide sequences is thought to affect transcription of the gene, either positively or negatively. Mutation of the insulin promoter has revealed regions important for transcription in vivo, and DNA-protein binding analyses have identified proteins which bind to these sequences in vitro [l-41. Both approaches have yielded considerable information regarding islet-specific transcription of the insulin gene. Among several important transcriptional control elements is a purine-rich region (GAGA box) located just upstream of the rat insulin I TATA box, between 57 and 40. Mutation of this region results in a 60% loss of activity in hamster insulinoma cells (HIT) [ 1 ], and a greater than 80% loss in fetal rat islets (M. S. German and W. J. Rutter, unpublished work). We have shown previously that the rat insulin I GAGA box binds to at least four distinct nuclear factors, and furthermore, that the same mutation which showed decreased transcriptional activity in vivo also failed to bind to these four proteins in vitro [ 51. These experiments suggest that binding of one or more of these four factors to the insulin GAGA box is necessary for transcriptional activity. We set out to isolate clones for one or more of these DNA-binding proteins so that we might understand their role in insulin gene transcription. We used the rat insulin I GAGA sequence to screen a HIT cell ilgtl 1 library and identified a cDNA encoding a sequence-specific GAGA binding protein [5]. This protein, which we designate Pur-1 (for its ability to bind to purine-rich sequences), binds strongly to the rat insulin GAGA sequence, but binds poorly to a mutated GAGA oligonucleotide, a cyclic AMP-response element (CRE), or the DNA-binding site for the transcription factor C/ERP. Sequence analysis of Pur-1 reveals the presence of six putative zinc fingers and several alanine-rich stretches [5, 61. We show here that Pur-1 fails to bind DNA in the absence of zinc;

Co-expression of sulfonylurea receptors and KATP channels in hamster insulinoma tumor (HIT) cells. Evidence for direct association of the receptor with the channel.

Cell membranes isolated from hamster insulinoma (HIT T15) cells at passages 65-74 contain high and low affinity receptors for a sulfonylurea derivative, 5-[125I]iodo,2-hydroxyglyburide (KD values of approximately 7 nM and 16 microM). Between passages 75 and 85, the estimated B(max) for the high affinity receptor decreases approximately 10-fold from approximately 1.6 to 0.16 pmol/mg membrane protein. By contrast, the density of low affinity binding sites, 800-1000 pmol/mg, is unaltered. The drop in high affinity receptors is paralleled by a decrease in the density of KATP channels assessed using patch-clamp and 86Rb(+)-efflux techniques. These results strongly support the idea that the high affinity sulfonylurea receptor is an integral part of the KATP channel.

A variant insulin promoter in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

To test the hypothesis that alterations in regulatory regions of the insulin gene occur in a subset of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), the promoter region was studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification directly from genomic DNA, followed by high-resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions. By using this method a previously identified HincII polymorphism (GTTGAC to GTTGAG at position-56) in American Blacks was readily detected, indicating that single base changes could be observed. In the course of screening the insulin promoter from 40 American Black subjects with NIDDM, an apparent larger allele was found in two individuals. Both patients were shown to have in addition to a normal allele, a larger allele containing an 8-bp repeat, TGGTCTAA from positions -322 to -315 of the insulin promoter. To facilitate rapid screening for the 8-bp repeat, a high-resolution agarose gel electrophoretic analysis was adopted. DNA from American Black NIDDM subjects (n = 100) and nondiabetic subjects (n = 100) was PCR amplified and analyzed. The 8-bp repeat was present in five NIDDM subjects, and one nondiabetic subject. DNA from Mauritius Creoles, also of African ancestry, was analyzed, and the 8-bp repeat was present in 3 of 41 NIDDM subjects, and 0 of 41 nondiabetic subjects. Analysis of glucose metabolism in three presumed normal sibs of an NIDDM patient with an 8-bp repeat revealed that one sib had overt diabetes, and two sibs were glucose intolerant, but there was no consistent segregation of the insulin promoter variant with the diabetes phenotype. The variant promoter was not present in 35 Caucasian NIDDM patients or in 40 Pima Indians. To test the biological consequences of the 8-bp repeat sequence in the insulin promoter, a normal and variant promoter were subcloned into a luciferase plasmid, and reporter gene activity assessed by transient transfection into mouse insulinoma (beta TC1) and hamster insulinoma (HIT) cells. The promoter activity of the variant allele was found to be reduced to 37.9 +/- 10.3% of the activity of the normal promoter in HIT cells (P less than 0.01, n = 4), and 49.1 +/- 6.4% in beta TC1 cells (P less than 0.01, n = 6). These data thus suggest that a naturally occurring variant of the insulin promoter may contribute to the diabetes phenotype in 5-6% of Black NIDDM patients.

C-Jun represses the human insulin promoter activity that depends on multiple cAMP response elements.

Glucose is known to increase the cAMP concentration in pancreatic beta cells. To determine the mechanism by which cAMP augments insulin gene expression, we first identified the cAMP response elements (CREs) of the human insulin gene. In DNase I footprint analysis, the bacterially synthesized CRE-binding protein, CRE-BP1, protected four sites: two sites in the region upstream from the insulin core promoter, one site in the first exon, and one site in the first intron. To examine the roles of those four sites, we constructed a series of DNA plasmids in which the wild-type and mutant insulin promoters were linked to the chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase gene. Studies of the transcriptional activity of these plasmids after transfection into hamster insulinoma (HIT) cells showed that these four sites contributed additively to the cAMP inducibility of the insulin promoter. Surprisingly, the c-jun protooncogene product (c-Jun) repressed the cAMP-induced activity of the insulin promoter in a cotransfection assay with the c-Jun expression plasmid. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the level of c-jun mRNA was dramatically increased by glucose deprivation in HIT cells. These results suggest that glucose may regulate expression of the human insulin gene through multiple CREs and c-Jun.

Human and rat amylin have no effects on insulin secretion in isolated rat pancreatic islets

Amylin, an islet amyloid peptide secreted by the pancreatic beta cell, has been proposed as a humoral regulator of islet insulin secretion. Four separate preparations of amylin were tested for effects on hormone secretion in both freshly isolated and cultured rat islets and in HIT-T15, hamster insulinoma cells. With all three experimental models, exposure to human amylin acid and human and rat amylin at concentrations as high as 100 nM had no significant effect on rates of insulin or glucagon secretion. These observations suggest that amylin, even at concentrations appreciably higher than those measured in peripheral plasma, is not a significant humoral regulator of islet hormone secretion.

Effect of the cooling rate on insulin release from frozen-thawed In-111 cells

Cultured cells derived from hamster insulinoma (In-111 R1 cells) were placed in 1.4 M dimethyl sulfoxide (Me 2SO)-containing RPMI 1640 at 20°C for 20 min. They were frozen to −40°C at a cooling rate of 1.0 or 0.5°C/min, subsequently to −80°C at 3°C/min with a programmable freezer. After being maintained at −80°C, they were rapidly thawed to 37°C. Thawed cells were washed with 0.75 M sucrose for removal of Me 2SO. Recovered cells were cultured in 2 ml of RPMI 1640 with 1.3 mM theophylline under a gas phase of 95% air −5% CO 2 at 37°C for 2 days. In both cooling rates, frozen-thawed cells discharged more insulin than the thawed in the absence of theophylline. However, this released insulin level was higher in the cells frozen at a cooling rate of 0.5°C/min than that at 1.0°C/min. Moreover, insulin released from frozen-thawed hamster insulinoma cells increased significantly with the addition of 1.3 mM theophylline. Considering that the higher insulin release level at 11.1 mM glucose alone might indicate cellular damage, it is suggested that the cooling rate of 1°C/min may be better for cryopreservation of the dispersed cells under the present protocol for the assessment of the function of insulin release.

Transcription of the Human Calcitonin Gene is Mediated by a C Cell-Specific Enhancer Containing E-Box-Like Elements

The calcitonin (CT) gene is expressed normally in thyroidal C-cells and in a restricted population of cells in the central and peripheral nerve system. To define the cis-elements within the 5'-flanking DNA of the human CT gene which mediate this cell-specific expression, we used DNA transfer techniques and a transient transfection approach. We found that a DNA sequence located between -1290 and -820 of the CT 5'-flanking DNA functioned as an enhancer of basal transcription in C-cells (from medullary thyroid carcinoma) but not in rat glioma (C6), hamster insulinoma (HIT), fibroblasts (3T3), or epithelial cells (HeLa and CV1). Further mapping revealed the presence of at least two elements within the enhancer region; an upstream element (USE, located between -1060 and -1030) which could not function independently but its removal caused 70-80% loss of enhancer activity and a downstream element (DSE, located at -1033 to -920) which functioned independently as a cell-specific enhancer but with reduced activity. The binding pattern of nuclear proteins from C-cells to the enhancer elements was studied by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. A protein-DNA complex was formed with the USE which could be competed, specifically, by an oligonucleotide containing the microE2 motif of the immunoglobulin gene enhancer. A similar complex was formed with the DSE fragment. Nuclear proteins from HeLa cells failed to form complexes with USE. Moreover, the binding pattern of proteins derived from HeLa cells to DSE was different from that of C-cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Functional characterization of a cAMP-responsive element of the rat insulin I gene.

Analogues of cAMP have been reported to increase insulin mRNA levels in normal rat beta-cells and hamster insulinoma cells (HIT). To define the mechanisms by which cAMP modulates insulin gene expression, we first investigated its effects on the transcriptional rate of the insulin gene in HIT cells. Nuclear run-on assays revealed a 4-fold increase in transcription observed as early as 1 h after stimulation. To characterize the cis-acting sequences of the rat insulin I gene promoter and the trans-acting factors mediating the cAMP effect on insulin gene transcription, we constructed DNA plasmids containing various lengths of the rat insulin I gene 5'-flanking region linked to the bacterial reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). Studies of the transcriptional activity of 5'-deletionally and pointly mutated plasmids after transfection into HIT cells revealed the presence of a cAMP-responsive element (CRE), TGACGTCC, between -177 and -184 relative to the transcriptional start site, whose sequence closely matches the previously defined CREs, present in cAMP-responsive genes. Gel retardation and Southwestern assays identify a protein of molecular weight approximately 43,000, binding specifically to the insulin CRE. We conclude that the rat insulin I gene is regulated by cAMP through a CRE and that the nuclear protein interacting with it might be similar or identical to the previously purified cAMP-responsive protein, CREB.

Detection of Islet Cell Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ICA) Using Hamster Insulinoma Cells (In-111 RI)

Detection of Islet Cell Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ICA) Using Hamster Insulinoma Cells (In-111 RI)

Unregulated secretion of an exogenous glycotripeptide by rat islets and HIT cells

Freshly isolated rat islets and cultured hamster insulinoma cells (HIT T15) were incubated with a membrane-permeable octanoyl tripeptide (N-octanoyl-ASN-TYR-THR-NH2), which contains an acceptor sequence for ASN-linked glycosylation. Labeled octanoyltripeptide (125[I]TYR) was glycosylated by both islets and HIT cells. The carbohydrate moiety of this glycotripeptide was removed by N-glycanase indicating that glycotripeptide was formed in the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum and, subsequently was secreted via the route for secretory protein. Secretion of glycotripeptide began more rapidly than that of insulin newly synthesized from 3[H]leucine. At 30 min glycotripeptide secretion was already significant but, over a 3-h period, it never represented more than 21% of glycotripeptide produced. Glycotripeptide secretion was not affected by compounds shown to regulate insulin secretion (glucose, forskolin, EGTA and streptozotocin). Thus in beta cells, it appears that glycotripeptide secretion is unregulated and that its cellular secretory pathway is different from that for insulin.

The COUP transcription factor binds to an upstream promoter element of the rat insulin II gene.

Band-shifting and DNase I-footprinting assays have been used to study the trans-acting factor(s) binding to an important promoter element (-53 to -46 relative to the transcription start) of the rat insulin II gene. A binding activity which footprints a region between -60 and -40 was found in both HIT, a hamster insulinoma cell line, and HeLa cells. A mutation within this region which drastically decreases promoter activity in vivo also greatly reduces binding activity in vitro. This binding activity was purified from HeLa cells and identified by competition and renaturation analyses as being the same as the COUP (chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter) transcription factor, a DNA-binding protein required for efficient transcription of the ovalbumin gene in vitro. Interestingly, the binding sequences of the COUP transcription factor in the ovalbumin and the insulin promoters have only limited similarities.