A study to elucidate the role of VAMP7 in insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells.

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19525
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Metabolomics
• Research Institution: Kyorin University
• Principal Investigator: Aoyagi Kyota 杏林大学, 医学部, 講師 (50453527)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: インスリン分泌 / 糖尿病 / オートファジー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

VAMP family proteins are SNARE proteins, which mediate fusions between intracellular vesicles and their target membranes. VAMP2, VAMP3, VAMP4, VAMP7, VAMP8 are expressed in pancreatic beta-cells, but the physiological role of VAMP7 in insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells were remained to be elucidated. In this study, I found that VAMP7 regulates autophagy to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis and to control insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. I also found that maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis would play a critical role in pathology of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学