Pancreatic β-cells store insulin in acidic secretory granules (SGs), specialized organelles that also contain monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Many neuroactive drugs with monoaminergic activity are cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) that accumulate in acidic compartments by pH-dependent trapping. Yet, whether insulin SGs represent a site of CAD accumulation and if this affects their properties such as monoamine storage and pH remain unclear. Here, we show that Slc18a1/VMAT1 is required for vesicular monoamine uptake and maintenance of cellular serotonin levels in insulinoma INS-1 cells. In contrast, neuroactive CADs accumulate via pH-dependent trapping at luminal pH values characteristic of insulin SGs. CADs inhibit VMAT-mediated uptake of the fluorescent monoamine probe FFN206 and induce its efflux to the extracellular space without detectable changes in SG luminal pH. Conversely, natural VMAT substrates such as serotonin and dopamine increase SG pH in a VMAT-dependent manner. These findings identify insulin SGs as acidic organelles susceptible to CAD accumulation and uncover distinct mechanisms regulating secretory granule homeostasis.

Enteroviruses (EVs), such as Coxsackievirus B5 (CVB5), are linked to pancreatic beta cell autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes (T1D). CVB5 infection of beta cells blocks their cap-dependent translation but spares cap-independent translation of insulin secretory granule (SG) cargoes, including major T1D autoantigens. Despite this, insulin SG stores are depleted. We show that CVB5 protease 2A rapidly depletes Golgi-associated sorting factor GGA2 in beta cells due to its short half-life. Immunostaining of pancreas sections from recent-onset T1D donors confirmed reduced GGA2 in beta cells expressing EV capsid protein VP1. Both GGA2 depletion and CVB5 2A expression impair SG biogenesis at the TGN without affecting MHC class I trafficking. They also disrupt the sorting of vacuolar ATPase and cathepsins, leading to TGN acidification and premature lysosomal hydrolase activation, which typically generate peptides presented in HLA-II alleles. Notably, the unique immunopeptidome of EV-infected, GGA2-depleted ECN90 beta-like cells is mainly presented via HLA-B alleles with an average isoelectric point (pI) of ∼5, compared to a pI of ∼7 of the prevailing HLA-I A allele immunopeptidome of non-infected cells. We propose that delayed sorting at the acidified TGN promotes cathepsin-mediated processing of in-transit secretory proteins, including SG cargoes, thereby generating novel peptides that may replace HLA class I antigens due to the acidic environment. This novel cross-presentation mechanism could have implications for T1D pathogenesis and antigen presentation in general. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

Upregulation of insulin mRNA translation upon hyperglycemia in pancreatic islet β-cells involves several RNA-binding proteins. Here, we found that G3BP1, a stress granule marker downregulated in islets of subjects with type 2 diabetes, binds to insulin mRNA in glucose concentration-dependent manner. We show in mouse insulinoma MIN6-K8 cells exposed to fasting glucose levels that G3BP1 and its paralog G3BP2 colocalize to cytosolic condensates with eIF3b, phospho-AMPKα Thr172 and Ins1/2 mRNA. Glucose stimulation dissolves G3BP1 + /2 + condensates with cytosolic redistribution of their components. The aldolase inhibitor aldometanib prevents the glucose- and pyruvate-induced dissolution of G3BP1 + /2 + condensates, increases phospho-AMPKα Thr172 levels and reduces those of phospho-mTOR Ser2448 . G3BP1 or G3BP2 depletion precludes condensate assembly. KO of G3BP1 decreases Ins1/2 mRNA abundance and translation as well as proinsulin levels, and impaires glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Further, other insulin secretagogues such as exendin-4 and palmitate, but not high KCl, prompts the dissolution of G3BP1 + /2 + condensates. G3BP1 + /2 + /Ins mRNA + condensates are also found in primary mouse and human β-cells. Hence, G3BP1 + /2 + condensates represent a conserved glycolysis/aldolase-regulated compartment for the physiological storage and protection of insulin mRNA in resting β-cells.

Hyperglycemia upregulates insulin translation in pancreatic beta cells. Several RNA- binding proteins involved in this process have been identified, including G3BP1, a stress granule marker downregulated in islets of subjects with type 2 diabetes. We show that in mouse insulinoma MIN6-K8 cells exposed to fasting glucose levels G3BP1 and its paralog G3BP2 colocalize to cytosolic condensates with eIF3b and Ins1/2 mRNA. Upon glucose stimulation, the condensates dissolve and G3BP1/2, eIF3b, and insulin mRNAs redistribute throughout the cytosol. Intriguingly, G3BP1+ condensates in MIN6-K8 cells differ from sodium arsenate-induced stress granules in regards to eIF2α and AMPKα phosphorylation. Knockout of G3BP1 or G3BP2 prevented condensate assembly, but only G3BP1 deletion decreased the levels of Ins1/2 mRNA and proinsulin and impaired polysome formation. Like glucose, other insulin secretagogues such as Exendin-4 and palmitate, but not high KCl, prompted the dissolution of G3BP1+ condensates. G3BP1+/ Ins mRNA+ condensates were also present in mouse and human beta cells from normoglycemic donors. Hence, G3BP1+ condensates represent a glucose-regulated compartment for the physiological storage and protection of insulin mRNA in resting beta cells.### Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.

ICA512/PTPRN is a receptor tyrosine-like phosphatase implicated in the biogenesis and turnover of the insulin secretory granules (SGs) in pancreatic islet beta cells. Previously we found biophysical evidence that its luminal RESP18 homology domain (RESP18HD) forms a biomolecular condensate and interacts with insulin in vitro at close-to-neutral pH, that is, in conditions resembling those present in the early secretory pathway. Here we provide further evidence for the relevance of these findings by showing that at pH 6.8 RESP18HD interacts also with proinsulin-the physiological insulin precursor found in the early secretory pathway and the major luminal cargo of β-cell nascent SGs. Our light scattering analyses indicate that RESP18HD and proinsulin, but also insulin, populate nanocondensates ranging in size from 15 to 300 nm and 10e2 to 10e6 molecules. Co-condensation of RESP18HD with proinsulin/insulin transforms the initial nanocondensates into microcondensates (size >1 μm). The intrinsic tendency of proinsulin to self-condensate implies that, in the ER, a chaperoning mechanism must arrest its spontaneous intermolecular condensation to allow for proper intramolecular folding. These data further suggest that proinsulin is an early driver of insulin SG biogenesis, in a process in which its co-condensation with RESP18HD participates in their phase separation from other secretory proteins in transit through the same compartments but destined to other routes. Through the cytosolic tail of ICA512, proinsulin co-condensation with RESP18HD may further orchestrate the recruitment of cytosolic factors involved in membrane budding and fission of transport vesicles and nascent SGs.

The glucose-stimulated biosynthesis of insulin in pancreatic islet beta cells is post-transcriptionally regulated. Several RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that regulate Insulin mRNA stability and translation also bind mRNAs coding for other insulin secretory granule (ISG) proteins. However, an overview of these interactions and their glucose-induced remodelling is still missing. Here we identify two distinct sets of RBPs that were preferentially pulled down with the 5’-UTRs of mouse Ins1 , Ins2 , spliced Ins2 , Ica512 / Ptprn and Pc2 / Pcsk2 mRNAs from extracts of either resting or stimulated mouse insulinoma MIN6 cells. Among RBPs binding to all tested transcripts in resting conditions was hnRNP A2/B1. Hnrnpa2b1 KO MIN6 cells contained lower levels of Ins1 mRNA, proinsulin and insulin, and had reduced insulin secretion. In resting cells, both hnRNP A2/B1 and Insulin mRNAs localized to stress granules, which dissolved upon glucose stimulation. Insulin mRNA-positive RNA granules were also found in human pancreatic beta cells in situ . Our results suggest that resting beta cells store mRNAs for insulin secretory granule proteins in stress granules through specific RNA protein interactions. Glucose stimulation remodels these interactions, releasing the transcripts, and another set of RBPs coordinates their translation.

Type 1 diabetes islet cell autoantigen 512 (ICA512) is a tyrosine phosphatase-like intrinsic membrane protein involved in the biogenesis and turnover of insulin secretory granules (SGs) in pancreatic islet β-cells. Whereas its membrane proximal and cytoplasmic domains have been functionally and structurally characterized, the role of ICA512 N-terminal segment named regulated endocrine-specific protein 18 homology domain (RESP18HD), which encompasses residues 35-131, remains largely unknown. Here we show that ICA512 RESP18HD residues 91-131 encode for an intrinsically disordered region (IDR), which in vitro acts as a condensing factor for the reversible aggregation of insulin and other β-cell proteins in a pH and Zn2+ regulated fashion. At variance with what has been shown for other granule cargoes with aggregating properties, the condensing activity of ICA512 RESP18HD is displayed at pH close to neutral, i.e. in the pH range found in the early secretory pathway, while it is resolved at acidic pH and Zn2+ concentrations resembling those present in mature SGs. Moreover, we show that ICA512 RESP18HD residues 35-90, preceding the IDR, inhibit insulin fibrillation in vitro. Finally, we found that glucose-stimulated secretion of RESP18HD upon exocytosis of SGs from insulinoma INS-1 cells is associated with cleavage of its IDR, conceivably to prevent its aggregation upon exposure to neutral pH in the extracellular milieu. Taken together, these findings point to ICA512 RESP18HD being a condensing factor for protein sorting and granulogenesis early in the secretory pathway, and for prevention of amyloidogenesis.

Coxsackieviruses B (CVBs) are among the candidate environmental factors implicated in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Their cap-independent translation in β-cells relies on factors that are also implicated in the translation of insulin granule components (Knoch et al, 2014). Notably, CVB Infection of β-cells strongly reduces their insulin granule stores and release. Therefore, we are interested in elucidating how CVB proteases affect the traffic and stability of insulin granule cargoes.

Aims/hypothesis Pancreatic islet beta cell failure causes type 2 diabetes in humans. To identify transcriptomic changes in type 2 diabetic islets, the Innovative Medicines Initiative for Diabetes: Improving beta-cell function and identification of diagnostic biomarkers for treatment monitoring in Diabetes (IMIDIA) consortium ( www.imidia.org ) established a comprehensive, unique multicentre biobank of human islets and pancreas tissues from organ donors and metabolically phenotyped pancreatectomised patients (PPP). Methods Affymetrix microarrays were used to assess the islet transcriptome of islets isolated either by enzymatic digestion from 103 organ donors (OD), including 84 non-diabetic and 19 type 2 diabetic individuals, or by laser capture microdissection (LCM) from surgical specimens of 103 PPP, including 32 non-diabetic, 36 with type 2 diabetes, 15 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 20 with recent-onset diabetes (<1 year), conceivably secondary to the pancreatic disorder leading to surgery (type 3c diabetes). Bioinformatics tools were used to (1) compare the islet transcriptome of type 2 diabetic vs non-diabetic OD and PPP as well as vs IGT and type 3c diabetes within the PPP group; and (2) identify transcription factors driving gene co-expression modules correlated with insulin secretion ex vivo and glucose tolerance in vivo. Selected genes of interest were validated for their expression and function in beta cells. Results Comparative transcriptomic analysis identified 19 genes differentially expressed (false discovery rate ≤0.05, fold change ≥1.5) in type 2 diabetic vs non-diabetic islets from OD and PPP. Nine out of these 19 dysregulated genes were not previously reported to be dysregulated in type 2 diabetic islets. Signature genes included TMEM37 , which inhibited Ca 2+ -influx and insulin secretion in beta cells, and ARG2 and PPP1R1A , which promoted insulin secretion. Systems biology approaches identified HNF1A , PDX1 and REST as drivers of gene co-expression modules correlated with impaired insulin secretion or glucose tolerance, and 14 out of 19 differentially expressed type 2 diabetic islet signature genes were enriched in these modules. None of these signature genes was significantly dysregulated in islets of PPP with impaired glucose tolerance or type 3c diabetes. Conclusions/interpretation These studies enabled the stringent definition of a novel transcriptomic signature of type 2 diabetic islets, regardless of islet source and isolation procedure. Lack of this signature in islets from PPP with IGT or type 3c diabetes indicates differences possibly due to peculiarities of these hyperglycaemic conditions and/or a role for duration and severity of hyperglycaemia. Alternatively, these transcriptomic changes capture, but may not precede, beta cell failure.

Glucose stimulation of β-cells rapidly increases insulin biosynthesis and secretory granule (SG) biogenesis. This increase occurs without affecting the levels of mRNAs coding SG components, pointing to post-transcriptional regulation. Several RNA-binding proteins (RBP) that regulate the stability and translation of these transcripts encoding are known, but a comprehensive view of their binding in resting and stimulated conditions is still missing.

The reason for preferential autoimmunity towards insulin, ICA512/IA-2 and other cargoes of beta cell secretory granules in type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains unknown. We have shown that glucose stimulation of beta cells rapidly and selectively up-regulates the Polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1) -dependent cap-independent translation of granule precursor cargoes, including proinsulin, proICA512/IA-2, prochromogranin A and hormone convertases proPC1/3 and proPC2 [Knoch, K.-P. et al. 2014]. PTBP1-dependent cap-independent translation is also required for replication of Enteroviruses (Evs) in beta cells potentially triggering or accelerating T1D onset, such as Coxsackieviruses B or Echoviruses.

Introduction: The receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase ICA512/IA-2/RPTPN is an integral component of the insulin secretory granules (SGs) and a major autoantigen in type-1 diabetes. Insulin SG stores are reduced to 50% in mice lacking ICA512. Calpain-mediated cleavage of its cytosolic domain upon SG exocytosis has been proposed as a signaling mechanism for adjusting insulin production to the size and consumption of SG stores. The function of the ICA512 extracellular region, instead, is largely unknown. Resolution of its mature ectodomain (ME ICA512) has revealed that this portion of the extracellular region, similar to mucins, contains a SEA domain and that the recombinant protein can assemble in several dimeric modes in vitro.

Glucose and GLP-1 stimulate not only insulin secretion, but also the post-transcriptional induction of insulin granule biogenesis. This process involves the nucleocytoplasmic translocation of the RNA binding protein PTBP1. Binding of PTBP1 to the 3'-UTRs of mRNAs for insulin and other cargoes of beta cell granules increases their stability. Here we show that glucose enhances also the binding of PTBP1 to the 5'-UTRs of these transcripts, which display IRES activity, and their translation exclusively in a cap-independent fashion. Accordingly, glucose-induced biosynthesis of granule cargoes was unaffected by pharmacological, genetic or Coxsackievirus-mediated inhibition of cap-dependent translation. Infection with Coxsackieviruses, which also depend on PTBP1 for their own cap-independent translation, reduced instead granule stores and insulin release. These findings provide insight into the mechanism for glucose-induction of insulin granule production and on how Coxsackieviruses, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes, can foster beta cell failure. (c) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

The type 1 diabetes autoantigen ICA512/IA-2/RPTPN is a receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase of the insulin secretory granules (SGs) which regulates the size of granule stores, possibly via cleavage/signaling of its cytosolic tail. The role of its extracellular region remains unknown. Structural studies indicated that β2- or β4-strands in the mature ectodomain (ME ICA512) form dimers in vitro. Here we show that ME ICA512 prompts proICA512 dimerization in the endoplasmic reticulum. Perturbation of ME ICA512 β2-strand N-glycosylation upon S508A replacement allows for proICA512 dimerization, O-glycosylation, targeting to granules, and conversion, which are instead precluded upon G553D replacement in the ME ICA512 β4-strand. S508A/G553D and N506A/G553D double mutants dimerize but remain in the endoplasmic reticulum. Removal of the N-terminal fragment (ICA512-NTF) preceding ME ICA512 allows an ICA512-ΔNTF G553D mutant to exit the endoplasmic reticulum, and ICA512-ΔNTF is constitutively delivered to the cell surface. The signal for SG sorting is located within the NTF RESP18 homology domain (RESP18-HD), whereas soluble NTF is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. Hence, we propose that the ME ICA512 β2-strand fosters proICA512 dimerization until NTF prevents N506 glycosylation. Removal of this constraint allows for proICA512 β4-strand-induced dimerization, exit from the endoplasmic reticulum, O-glycosylation, and RESP18-HD-mediated targeting to granules.