Investigation of pancreatic β-cell function using imaging and proteomic approaches

The molecular mechanism of glucose regulated insulin secretion, which is essential for maintaining normal blood glucose levels, is not fully understood. The disruption of insulin secretion is characteristic of type 2 diabetes, a disease which affects 300 million people globally, and is strongly associated with obesity. The role of plasma membrane K⁺ATP channels in insulin secretion has been well established, however their intracellular localisation and role in organellar cation homeostasis has been debated. The aim of this study was to verify the subcellular presence, and location of the K⁺ATP channel subunits Kir6.2 and SURl in pancreatic β-cells, which may help to elucidate the hill mechanisms underlying insulin secretion .K⁺ATP channel subunits were localised in MIN6 pancreatic β-cells lets, using immunogold staining in conjunction with Transmission Microscopy (TEM). Kir6.2 and SURl were successfully localised to the insulin containing vesicles, but not to mitochondria. Further staining was also attributed to other cellular organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo