Doc2b is a key effector of insulin secretion and skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity

Diabetes. 2012 Oct;61(10):2424-32. doi: 10.2337/db11-1525. Epub 2012 Jun 14.

Abstract

Exocytosis of intracellular vesicles, such as insulin granules, is carried out by soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) and Sec1/Munc18 (SM) proteins. An additional regulatory protein, Doc2b (double C2 domain), has recently been implicated in exocytosis from clonal β-cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Here, we investigated the role of Doc2b in insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and the maintenance of whole-body glucose homeostasis. Doc2b heterozygous (Doc2b(+/-)) and homozygous (Doc2b(-/-)) knockout mice exhibited significant whole-body glucose intolerance and peripheral insulin resistance, compared with wild-type littermates. Correspondingly, Doc2b(+/-) and Doc2b(-/-) mice exhibited decreased responsiveness of pancreatic islets to glucose in vivo, with significant attenuation of both phases of insulin secretion ex vivo. Peripheral insulin resistance correlated with ablated insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and GLUT4 vesicle translocation in skeletal muscle from Doc2b-deficient mice, which was coupled to impairments in Munc18c-syntaxin 4 dissociation and in SNARE complex assembly. Hence, Doc2b is a key positive regulator of Munc18c-syntaxin 4-mediated insulin secretion as well as of insulin responsiveness in skeletal muscle, and thus a key effector for glucose homeostasis in vivo. Doc2b's actions in glucose homeostasis may be related to its ability to bind Munc18c and/or directly promote fusion of insulin granules and GLUT4 vesicles in a stimulus-dependent manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Glucose / pharmacology
  • Glucose Intolerance / genetics*
  • Glucose Intolerance / metabolism
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4 / metabolism
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin / pharmacology
  • Insulin Resistance / genetics*
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Islets of Langerhans / drug effects
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Munc18 Proteins / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Doc2b protein, mouse
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Insulin
  • Munc18 Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins
  • Slc2a4 protein, mouse
  • Glucose