Manipulating ß-cell zinc to tatrget regenerative compound activity

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract
Loss of pancreatic insulin-producing β-cells is characteristic of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The recent identification of dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A/B (DYRK1A/B) inhibitors as inducers of β-cell replication raises the possibility of therapeutically regenerating lost β-cell mass. However, before contemplating clinical translation, a strategy for β-cell-selective drug targeting is required to direct the non-selective proliferative drug activity. One potential strategy for β-cell drug targeting is to leverage the uniquely high zinc content of insulin granules to promote preferential drug accumulation and bioactivity. Indeed, conjugating a zinc-chelating moiety (DPA) to the DYRK1A/B inhibitor GNF-4877 (4877-EXT-DPA) improved the β-cell selectivity of drug accumulation and replication induction. Consequently, in Chapter 2, we hypothesized that pharmacologically increasing β-cell zinc content would further enhance the potency and β-cell-selectivity of zinc-binding compounds. Using a chemical screening platform we developed, we identified GR 46611 as a modulator of β-cell zinc content. GR 46611 enhanced β-cell insulin content, diminished unstimulated insulin release, and opposed cAMP signaling. In primary rat and human islet-cell culture, GR 46611 treatment further biased 4877-EXT-DPA-induced (but not GNF-4877) replication towards β-cells. These studies identify a chemical modulator of β-cell zinc content and demonstrate a strategy for enhancing the β-cell selectivity of zinc-chelating DYRK1A/B inhibitors. Chapter 3 discusses pathogenic INS gene mutations that are causative for Mutant INS-gene-induced Diabetes of Youth (MIDY). We characterize a previously undescribed de novo heterozygous INS gene mutation (c.289A> C, p.T97P; INS_Stanford) that presented in an autoantibody negative 5-month-old male infant with severe diabetic ketoacidosis. In silico pathogenicity prediction tools provided contradictory interpretations while our structural modeling indicated a deleterious effect on insulin folding. Transfection of wildtype or INS_Stanford expression constructs demonstrated comparable intracellular proinsulin/insulin levels, but INS_Stanford expression resulted in impaired mature mutant insulin formation and secretion. To assess the effect of INS_Stanford on proinsulin processing and release, we generated reporter constructs where C-peptide was replaced with Gaussia luciferase. Notably, INS_Stanford exhibited approximately 10-fold reduced luciferase secretion, indicating impaired post-translational processing. Notably, proteasome inhibition partially and selectively rescued INS_Stanford-derived luciferase secretion. Additionally, INS_Stanford expression increased intracellular insulin aggregate formation and XBP-1s protein levels, consistent with induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress. We conclude that INS_Stanford is a newly identified pathogenic A-chain variant that is causative for MIDY via disruption of insulin folding and/or proteolytic processing with induction of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response.

Description

Type of resource text
Form electronic resource; remote; computer; online resource
Extent 1 online resource.
Place California
Place [Stanford, California]
Publisher [Stanford University]
Copyright date 2021; ©2021
Publication date 2021; 2021
Issuance monographic
Language English

Creators/Contributors

Author Moeller, Hannah Page
Degree supervisor Annes, Justin
Thesis advisor Annes, Justin
Thesis advisor Chen, James Kenneth
Thesis advisor Mochly-Rosen, Daria
Degree committee member Chen, James Kenneth
Degree committee member Mochly-Rosen, Daria
Associated with Stanford University, Department of Chemical and Systems Biology

Subjects

Genre Theses
Genre Text

Bibliographic information

Statement of responsibility Hannah Page Moeller (Fraser).
Note Submitted to the Department of Chemical and Systems Biology.
Thesis Thesis Ph.D. Stanford University 2021.
Location https://purl.stanford.edu/pj726yt2204

Access conditions

Copyright
© 2021 by Hannah Page Moeller
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).

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