Altered proglucagon processing in an alpha-cell line derived from prohormone convertase 2 null mouse islets

J Biol Chem. 2004 Jul 23;279(30):31068-75. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M404110200. Epub 2004 May 13.

Abstract

The endoproteolytic processing of proproteins in the secretory pathway depends on the expression of selected members of a family of subtilisin-like endoproteases known as the prohormone convertases (PCs). The main PC family members expressed in mammalian neuroendocrine cells are PC2 and PC1/3. The differential processing of proglucagon in pancreatic alpha-cells and intestinal L cells leads to production of distinct hormonal products with opposing physiological effects from the same precursor. Here we describe the establishment and characterization of a novel alpha-cell line (alphaTC-DeltaPC2) derived from PC2 homozygous null animals. The alphaTC-DeltaPC2 cells are shown to be similar to the well characterized alphaTC1-6 cell line in both morphology and overall gene expression. However, the absence of PC2 activity in alphaTC-DeltaPC2 leads to a complete block in the production of mature glucagon. Surprisingly, alphaTC-DeltaPC2 cells are able to efficiently cleave the interdomain site in proglucagon (KR 70-71). Further analysis reveals that alphaTC-DeltaPC2 cells, unlike alphaTC1-6 cells, express low levels of PC1/3 that lead to the generation of glicentin as well as low amounts of oxyntomodulin, GLP-1, truncated GLP-1, and N-terminally extended GLP-2. We conclude that alphaTC-DeltaPC2 cells provide additional evidence for PC2 as the major convertase in alpha-cells leading to mature glucagon production and provide a robust model for further analysis of the mechanisms of proprotein processing by the prohormone convertases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Glucagon / metabolism*
  • Islets of Langerhans / cytology
  • Islets of Langerhans / enzymology
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Models, Biological
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Proglucagon
  • Proprotein Convertase 2 / deficiency*
  • Proprotein Convertase 2 / genetics
  • Proprotein Convertase 2 / metabolism
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Protein Precursors
  • Proglucagon
  • Glucagon
  • Proprotein Convertase 2