Ciliary Generation of a Peptidergic Sexual Signal

Peptidergic intercellular communication occurs throughout the eukaryotes, and regulates a wide range of physiological and behavioral responses. Cilia are sensory and secretory organelles that both receive information from the environment and transmit signals. Cilia derived vesicles (ectosomes), formed by outward budding of the ciliary membrane, carry enzymes and other bioactive products; this process represents an ancient mode of regulated secretion. Our previous study revealed the presence of the peptide amidating enzyme, peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM), in cilia and its key role in ciliogenesis. Furthermore, PAM and its amidated products are released in ciliary ectosomes from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. One amidated product (GATI-amide) serves as a chemotactic modulator for C. reinhardtii gametes, attracting minus gametes while repelling plus gametes. Here we dissect the complex processing pathway that leads to formation of this amidated peptidergic sexual signal specifically on the ectosomes of plus gametes. We also identify a potential prohormone convertase that undergoes domain rearrangement during ectosomal secretion as a substrate for PAM. Analysis of this pathway affords insight into how single-celled organisms lacking dense core vesicles engage in regulated secretion, and provides a paradigm for understanding how amidated peptides that transmit sexual and other signals through cilia are generated.

Proglucagon-Derived Peptides as Therapeutics

Initially discovered as an impurity in insulin preparations, our understanding of the hyperglycaemic hormone glucagon has evolved markedly over subsequent decades. With description of the precursor proglucagon, we now appreciate that glucagon was just the first proglucagon-derived peptide (PGDP) to be characterised. Other bioactive members of the PGDP family include glucagon-like peptides -1 and -2 (GLP-1 and GLP-2), oxyntomodulin (OXM), glicentin and glicentin-related pancreatic peptide (GRPP), with these being produced via tissue-specific processing of proglucagon by the prohormone convertase (PC) enzymes, PC1/3 and PC2. PGDP peptides exert unique physiological effects that influence metabolism and energy regulation, which has witnessed several of them exploited in the form of long-acting, enzymatically resistant analogues for treatment of various pathologies. As such, intramuscular glucagon is well established in rescue of hypoglycaemia, while GLP-2 analogues are indicated in the management of short bowel syndrome. Furthermore, since approval of the first GLP-1 mimetic for the management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in 2005, GLP-1 therapeutics have become a mainstay of T2DM management due to multifaceted and sustainable improvements in glycaemia, appetite control and weight loss. More recently, longer-acting PGDP therapeutics have been developed, while newfound benefits on cardioprotection, bone health, renal and liver function and cognition have been uncovered. In the present article, we discuss the physiology of PGDP peptides and their therapeutic applications, with a focus on successful design of analogues including dual and triple PGDP receptor agonists currently in clinical development.

Effects of gypenosides on enteroendocrine L-cell function and GLP-1 secretion

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone produced in gut L-cells, which regulates postprandial glucose-dependent insulin secretion, also known as the incretin effect. GLP-1 secretion may be reduced in type 2 diabetes mellitus, impacting on glycaemic regulation. Thus, methods to enhance endogenous GLP-1 secretion by use of natural GLP-1 secretagogues may improve glucose control in diabetes. Gypenosides (GYP) extracted from the plant Gynostemma Pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan) are known for their glucose-lowering effects both in vitro and in vivo, although their effect on GLP-1 secretion is unknown. Our results showed that GYP enhanced cell viability and significantly upregulated antioxidant gene Nrf2, Cat and Ho-1 expression. GYP did not affect glucokinase expression but downregulated proglucagon gene expression over 24h, although, cellular GLP-1 content was unchanged. Prohormone convertase 1 (Pcsk1) gene expression was unchanged by GYP over 24h, although protein levels were significantly downregulated, while prohormone convertase 2 (Pcsk2) mRNA and protein levels were significantly upregulated. Acute exposure to gypenosides enhanced calcium uptake and GLP-1 release from GLUTag cells both at low and high glucose concentrations. These results suggest that anti-diabetic properties of gypenosides are partly linked to their ability to stimulate GLP-1 secretion. Gypenosides enhance antioxidant gene expression and may protect L-cells from excess oxidative stress.

Revisiting proinsulin processing: Evidence that human β-cells process proinsulin with prohormone convertase (PC) 1/3 but not PC2

Insulin is first produced in pancreatic β-cells as the precursor prohormone proinsulin. Defective proinsulin processing has been implicated in the pathogenesis of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Though there is substantial evidence that mouse β-cells process proinsulin using prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) then prohormone convertase 2 (PC2), this finding has not been verified in human β-cells. Immunofluorescence with validated antibodies reveals that there was no detectable PC2 immunoreactivity in human β-cells and little PCSK2 mRNA by in situ hybridization. Similarly, rat β-cells were not immunoreactive for PC2. In all histological experiments, PC2 immunoreactivity in neighbouring α-cells acts as a positive control. In donors with type 2 diabetes, β-cells had elevated PC2 immunoreactivity, suggesting that aberrant PC2 expression may contribute to impaired proinsulin processing in β-cells of patients with diabetes. To support histological findings using a biochemical approach, human islets were used for pulse-chase experiments. Despite inhibition of PC2 function by temperature blockade, brefeldin-A, chloroquine, and multiple inhibitors that blocked production of mature glucagon from proglucagon, β-cells retained the ability to produce mature insulin. Conversely, suppression of PC1/3 blocked processing of proinsulin but not proglucagon. By demonstrating that healthy human β-cells process proinsulin by PC1/3 but not PC2 we suggest that there is a need to revise the longstanding theory of proinsulin processing.

Revisiting proinsulin processing: Evidence that human β-cells process proinsulin with prohormone convertase (PC) 1/3 but not PC2

Insulin is first produced in pancreatic β-cells as the precursor prohormone proinsulin. Defective proinsulin processing has been implicated in the pathogenesis of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Though there is substantial evidence that mouse β-cells process proinsulin using prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) then prohormone convertase 2 (PC2), this finding has not been verified in human β-cells. Immunofluorescence with validated antibodies reveals that there was no detectable PC2 immunoreactivity in human β-cells and little PCSK2 mRNA by in situ hybridization. Similarly, rat β-cells were not immunoreactive for PC2. In all histological experiments, PC2 immunoreactivity in neighbouring α-cells acts as a positive control. In donors with type 2 diabetes, β-cells had elevated PC2 immunoreactivity, suggesting that aberrant PC2 expression may contribute to impaired proinsulin processing in β-cells of patients with diabetes. To support histological findings using a biochemical approach, human islets were used for pulse-chase experiments. Despite inhibition of PC2 function by temperature blockade, brefeldin-A, chloroquine, and multiple inhibitors that blocked production of mature glucagon from proglucagon, β-cells retained the ability to produce mature insulin. Conversely, suppression of PC1/3 blocked processing of proinsulin but not proglucagon. By demonstrating that healthy human β-cells process proinsulin by PC1/3 but not PC2 we suggest that there is a need to revise the longstanding theory of proinsulin processing.