Islet amyloid and type 2 diabetes: from molecular misfolding to islet pathophysiology.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP, amylin) is secreted from pancreatic islet beta-cells and converted to amyloid deposits in type 2 diabetes. Conversion from soluble monomer, IAPP 1-37, to beta-sheet fibrils involves changes in the molecular conformation, cellular biochemistry and diabetes-related factors. In addition to the recognised amyloidogenic region, human IAPP (hIAPP) 20-29, the peptides human or rat IAPP 30-37 and 8-20, assume beta-conformation and form fibrils. These three amyloidogenic regions of hIAPP can be modelled as a folding intermediate with an intramolecular beta-sheet. A hypothesis is proposed for co-secretion of proIAPP with proinsulin in diabetes and formation of a 'nidus' adjacent to islet capillaries for subsequent accumulation of secreted IAPP to form the deposit. Although intracellular fibrils have been identified in experimental systems, extracellular deposition predominates in animal models and man. Extensive fibril accumulations replace islet cells. The molecular species of IAPP that is cytotoxic remains controversial. However, since fibrils form invaginations in cell membranes, small non-toxic IAPP fibrillar or amorphous accumulations could affect beta-cell stimulus-secretion coupling. The level of production of hIAPP is important but not a primary factor in islet amyloidosis; there is little evidence for inappropriate IAPP hypersecretion in type 2 diabetes and amyloid formation is generated in transgenic mice overexpressing the gene for human IAPP only against a background of obesity. Animal models of islet amyloidosis suggest that diabetes is induced by the deposits whereas in man, fibril formation appears to result from diabetes-associated islet dysfunction. Islet secretory failure results from progressive amyloidosis which provides a target for new therapeutic interventions.     

Amyloid inhibitors enhance survival of cultured human islets

Background

Amyloid fibrils created by misfolding and aggregation of proteins are a major pathological feature in a variety of degenerative diseases. Therapeutic approaches including amyloid vaccines and anti-aggregation compounds in models of amyloidosis point to an important role for amyloid in disease pathogenesis. Amyloid deposits derived from the β-cell peptide islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP or amylin) are a characteristic of type 2 diabetes and may contribute to loss of β-cells in this disease.

Methods

We developed a cellular model of rapid amyloid deposition using cultured human islets and observed a correlation between fibril accumulation and β-cell death. A series of overlapping peptides derived from IAPP was generated.

Results

A potent inhibitor (ANFLVH) of human IAPP aggregation was identified. This inhibitory peptide prevented IAPP fibril formation in vitro and in human islet cultures leading to a striking increase in islet cell viability.

Conclusions

These findings indicate an important contribution of IAPP aggregation to β-cell death in situ and point to therapeutic applications for inhibitors of IAPP aggregation in enhancing β-cell survival.

General significance

Anti-amyloid compounds could potentially reduce the loss of β-cell mass in type 2 diabetes and maintain healthy human islet cultures for β-cell replacement therapies.     

The FGFR D3 domain determines receptor selectivity for fibroblast growth factor 21

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP; also known as amylin) is responsible for islet amyloid formation in type 2 diabetes, and IAPP-induced toxicity is believed to contribute to the loss of β-cell mass associated with the late stages of type 2 diabetes. Islet amyloid formation may also play a role in graft failure after transplantation. IAPP is produced as a prohormone, pro-islet amyloid polypeptide (proIAPP), and processed in the secretory granules of the pancreatic β-cells. Partially processed forms of proIAPP are found in amyloid deposits; most notable is a 48-residue intermediate, proIAPP_1-48, which includes the N-terminal pro-extension, but which has been properly processed at the C-terminus. Incomplete processing may play a role in islet amyloid formation by promoting interactions with sulfated proteoglycans of the extracellular matrix, which, in turn, promote amyloid formation. We show that acid fuchsin (3-(1-(4-amino-3-methyl-5-sulphonatophenyl)-1-(4-amino-3-sulphonatophenyl)methylene)cyclohexa-1,4-dienesulphonic acid), a simple sulfonated triphenyl methyl derivative, is a potent inhibitor of amyloid formation by the proIAPP_1-48 intermediate. The more complicated triphenyl methane derivative fast green FCF {ethyl-[4-[[4-[ethyl-[(3-sulfophenyl)methyl]amino]phenyl]-(4-hydroxy-2-sulfophenyl)methylidene]-1-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene]-[(3-sulfophenyl)methyl]azanium} also inhibits amyloid formation by IAPP and the proIAPP processing intermediate. Both compounds inhibit amyloid formation by mixtures of the proIAPP intermediate and the model glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate. Acid fuchsin also inhibits glycosaminoglycan-mediated amyloid formation by mature IAPP. The ability to inhibit amyloid formation is not simply due to the compounds being sulfonated, since the sulfonated inhibitor of amyloid-β, tramiprosate, is not an inhibitor of amyloid formation by proIAPP_1-48.     

Amyloidogenic Propensities and Conformational Properties of ProIAPP and IAPP in the Presence of Lipid Bilayer Membranes

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), which is considered the primary culprit for β-cell loss in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, is synthesized in β-cells of the pancreas from its precursor pro-islet amyloid polypeptide (proIAPP), which may be important in early intracellular amyloid formation as well. We compare the amyloidogenic propensities and conformational properties of proIAPP and hIAPP in the presence of negatively charged lipid membranes, which have been discussed as loci of initiation of the fibrillation reaction. Circular dichroism studies verify the initial secondary structures of proIAPP and hIAPP to be predominantly unordered with small amounts of ordered secondary structure elements, and exhibit minor differences between these two peptides only. Using attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thioflavin T fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as atomic force microscopy, we show that in the presence of negatively charged membranes, proIAPP exhibits a much higher amyloidogenic propensity than in bulk solvent. Compared to hIAPP, it is still much less amyloidogenic, however. Although differences in the secondary structures of the aggregated species of hIAPP and proIAPP at the lipid interface are small, they are reflected in morphological changes. Unlike hIAPP, proIAPP forms essentially oligomeric-like structures at the lipid interface. Besides the interaction with anionic membranes [1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) + x1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)]], interaction with zwitterionic homogeneous (DOPC) and heterogeneous (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine:DOPC:cholesterol 1:2:1 model raft mixture) membranes has also been studied. Both peptides do not aggregate significantly at DOPC bilayers. In the presence of the model raft membrane, hIAPP aggregates markedly as well. Conversely, proIAPP clusters into less ordered structures and to a minor extent at raft membranes only. The addition of proIAPP to hIAPP retards the hIAPP fibrillation process also in the presence of negatively charged lipid bilayers. In excess proIAPP, increased aggregation levels are finally observed, however, which could be attributed to seed-induced cofibrillation of proIAPP.     

Characterization of the heparin binding site in the N-terminus of human pro-islet amyloid polypeptide: implications for amyloid formation

Islet amyloid deposits are a characteristic pathological hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), also referred to as amylin, aggregates in the islet extracellular space to form amyloid deposits in up to 95% of patients with the disease. IAPP is stored with insulin in beta-islet cells and is processed in parallel by subtilisin-like prohormone convertases prior to secretion. There is indirect evidence that normal processing of the prohormone precursor, proIAPP, at the N-terminal cleavage site is defective in type 2 diabetes and results in secretion of an N-terminal extended proIAPP intermediate. The N-terminal flanking region of proIAPP is detected in amyloid deposits; however, the C-terminal flanking region is not. Immunohistochemical studies implicate the presence of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) perlecan in islet amyloid deposits, suggesting a role for HSPGs in mediating amyloid deposition in type 2 diabetes and implicating a binding domain in the N-terminus of proIAPP. Initial studies of proIAPP indicated that the HSPG binding region is contained within the first 30 residues. Here, we characterize the potential HSPG binding site of proIAPP in detail by analyzing a set of peptide fragments. Binding is tighter at low pH due to protonation of histidine residues. Deletion studies show that Arg-22 and His-29 play a role in binding. Reduction of the Cys-13 to Cys-18 disulfide leads to a noticeable decrease in binding. We demonstrate the ability of heparan sulfate to induce amyloid formation in N-terminal fragments of proIAPP. The oxidized peptide forms amyloid more rapidly than the reduced variant in the presence of heparan sulfate, but the reduced peptide ultimately forms more extensive amyloid deposits. The potential implications for islet amyloid formation in vivo are discussed.     

Processing of pro-islet amyloid polypeptide in the constitutive and regulated secretory pathways of beta cells

Islet amyloid is a pathologic characteristic of the pancreas in type 2 diabetes comprised mainly of the beta-cell peptide islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP; amylin). We used a pulse-chase approach to investigate the kinetics of processing and secretion of the IAPP precursor, proIAPP, in beta cells. By only 20 min after synthesis, a COOH-terminally processed proIAPP intermediate (approximately 6 kDa) was already present in beta cells. Formation of this NH2-terminally extended intermediate was not prevented by arresting secretory pathway transport at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) by either brefeldin A or temperature blockade, suggesting that this initial cleavage step occurs in the TGN before entry of (pro)IAPP into granules. Mature IAPP (approximately 4 kDa) was not detected until 60 min of chase, suggesting that NH2-terminal cleavage occurs in granules. Cells chased in low glucose without Ca2+ or with diazoxide, to block regulated release, secreted both proIAPP (approximately 8 kDa) and a partially processed form (approximately 6 kDa) via the constitutive secretory pathway. Stimulation of regulated secretion resulted in secretion primarily of mature IAPP as well as low levels of both unprocessed (approximately 8 kDa) and partially processed (approximately 6 kDa) proIAPP. We conclude that normal processing of proIAPP is a two-step process initiated by cleavage at its COOH terminus (likely by prohormone convertase 1/3 in the TGN) followed by cleavage at its NH2 terminus (by prohormone convertase 2 in granules) to form IAPP. Both proIAPP and its NH2-terminally extended intermediate appear to be normal secretory products of the beta cell that can be released via either the regulated or constitutive secretory pathways.     

Neprilysin Impedes Islet Amyloid Formation by Inhibition of Fibril Formation Rather Than Peptide Degradation

Deposition of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) as islet amyloid in type 2 diabetes contributes to loss of β-cell function and mass, yet the mechanism for its occurrence is unclear. Neprilysin is a metallopeptidase known to degrade amyloid in Alzheimer disease. We previously demonstrated neprilysin to be present in pancreatic islets and now sought to determine whether it plays a role in degrading islet amyloid. We used an in vitro model where cultured human IAPP (hIAPP) transgenic mouse islets develop amyloid and thereby have increased β-cell apoptosis. Islet neprilysin activity was inhibited or up-regulated using a specific inhibitor or adenovirus encoding neprilysin, respectively. Following neprilysin inhibition, islet amyloid deposition and β-cell apoptosis increased by 54 and 75%, respectively, whereas when neprilysin was up-regulated islet amyloid deposition and β-cell apoptosis both decreased by 79%. To determine if neprilysin modulated amyloid deposition by cleaving hIAPP, analysis of hIAPP incubated with neprilysin was performed by mass spectrometry, which failed to demonstrate neprilysin-induced cleavage. Rather, neprilysin may act by reducing hIAPP fibrillogenesis, which we showed to be the case by fluorescence-based thioflavin T binding studies and electron microscopy. In summary, neprilysin decreases islet amyloid deposition by inhibiting hIAPP fibril formation, rather than degrading hIAPP. These findings suggest that targeting the role of neprilysin in IAPP fibril assembly, in addition to IAPP cleavage by other peptidases, may provide a novel approach to reduce and/or prevent islet amyloid deposition in type 2 diabetes.     

Islet amyloid polypeptide inserts into phospholipid monolayers as monomer

Amyloid deposits in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans are thought to be a main factor responsible for death of the insulin-producing islet beta-cells in type 2 diabetes. It is hypothesized that beta-cell death is related to interaction of the 37 amino acid residue human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), the major constituent of islet amyloid, with cellular membranes. However, the mechanism of hIAPP-membrane interactions is largely unknown. Here, we study the nature and the molecular details of the initial step of hIAPP-membrane interactions by using the monolayer technique. It is shown that both freshly dissolved hIAPP and the non-amyloidogenic mouse IAPP (mIAPP) have a pronounced ability to insert into phospholipid monolayers, even at lipid packing conditions that exceed the conditions that occur in biological membranes. In contrast, the fibrillar form of hIAPP has lost the ability to insert. These results, combined with the observations that both the insertion kinetics and the dependence of insertion on the initial surface pressure are similar for freshly dissolved hIAPP and mIAPP, indicate that hIAPP inserts into phospholipid monolayers most likely as a monomer. In addition, our results suggest that the N-terminal part of hIAPP, which is nearly identical with that of mIAPP, is largely responsible for insertion. This is supported by experiments with hIAPP fragments, which show that a peptide consisting of the 19 N-terminal residues of hIAPP efficiently inserts into phospholipid monolayers, whereas an amyloidogenic decapeptide, consisting of residues 20-29 of hIAPP, inserts much less efficiently. The results obtained here suggest that hIAPP monomers might insert with high efficiency in biological membranes in vivo. This process could play an important role as a first step in hIAPP-induced membrane damage in type 2 diabetes.     

Role of PON in Anoxia-Reoxygenation Injury: A Drosophila Melanogaster Transgenic Model

Background

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a protein found associated with high density lipoprotein (HDL), thought to prevent oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This enzyme has been implicated in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. Anoxia-reoxygenation and oxidative stress are important elements in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. However, the role of PON1 in anoxia-reoxygenation or anoxic injury is unclear. We hypothesize that PON1 prevents anoxia-reoxygenation injury. We set out to determine whether PON1 expression in Drosophila melanogaster protects against anoxia-reoxygenation (A-R) induced injury.

Methods

Wild type (WT) and transgenic PON1 flies were exposed to anoxia (100% Nitrogen) for different time intervals (from 1 to 24 hours). After the anoxic period, flies were placed in room air for reoxygenation. Activity and survival of flies was then recorded.

Results

Within 5 minutes of anoxia, all flies fell into a stupor state. After reoxygenation, survivor flies resumed activity with some delay. Interestingly, transgenic flies recovered from stupor later than WT. PON1 transgenic flies had a significant survival advantage after A-R stress compared with WT. The protection conferred by PON1 expression was present regardless of the age or dietary restriction. Furthermore, PON1 expression exclusively in CNS conferred protection.

Conclusion

Our results support the hypothesis that PON1 has a protective role in anoxia-reoxygenation injury, and its expression in the CNS is sufficient and necessary to provide a 100% survival protection.     

Porcine islet amyloid polypeptide fragments are refractory to amyloid formation

Of 10 variation sites between sequences of amyloid-resistant porcine islet amyloid polypeptide (pIAPP) and amyloid-prone human IAPP (hIAPP), seven locate within residues 17–29, the most amyloidogenic fragment within hIAPP. To investigate how these variations affect amyloidogenicity, 26 IAPP(17–29) or IAPP(20–29) variants were synthesized and their secondary structures, amyloidogenicity, oligomerization and cytotoxicity were studied. Our results indicated that pIAPP fragments are refractory to amyloid formation and significantly less cytotoxic compared with hIAPP fragments. A novel stable dimer was observed in pIAPP(20–29) solution, whereas hIAPP(20–29) exists mostly as monomers and trimers. Among all human to porcine substitutions, S20R caused the most prolonged lag time and significantly attenuated cytotoxicity. The different oligomerization and amyloidogenic properties of hIAPP and pIAPP fragments are discussed.

Structured summary

pIAPP and pIAPPbind: shown by molecular sieving (view interactions 1, 2)hIAPP and hIAPPbind: shown by molecular sieving (view interactions 1, 2)     

Uptake of aggregating transthyretin by fat body in a Drosophila model for TTR-associated amyloidosis

Background

A functional link has been established between the severe neurodegenerative disorder Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy and the enhanced propensity of the plasma protein transthyretin (TTR) to form aggregates in patients with single point mutations in the TTR gene. Previous work has led to the establishment of an experimental model based on transgenic expression of normal or mutant forms of human TTR in Drosophila flies. Remarkably, the severity of the phenotype was greater in flies that expressed a single copy than with two copies of the mutated gene.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, we analyze the distribution of normal and mutant TTR in transgenic flies, and the ultrastructure of TTR-positive tissues to clarify if aggregates and/or amyloid filaments are formed. We report the formation of intracellular aggregates of 20 nm spherules and amyloid filaments in thoracic adipose tissue and in brain glia, two tissues that do not express the transgene. The formation of aggregates of nanospherules increased with age and was more considerable in flies with two copies of mutated TTR. Treatment of human neuronal cells with protein extracts prepared from TTR flies of different age showed that the extracts from older flies were less toxic than those from younger flies.

Conclusions/Significance

These findings suggest that the uptake of TTR from the circulation and its subsequent segregation into cytoplasmic quasi-crystalline arrays of nanospherules is part of a mechanism that neutralizes the toxic effect of TTR.     

Processing of synthetic pro-islet amyloid polypeptide (proIAPP) 'amylin' by recombinant prohormone convertase enzymes, PC2 and PC3, in vitro.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), amylin, is the constituent peptide of pancreatic islet amyloid deposits which form in islets of Type 2 diabetic subjects. Human IAPP is synthesized as a 67-residue propeptide in islet beta-cells and colocalized with insulin in beta-cell granules. The mature 37-amino acid peptide is produced by proteolysis at pairs of basic residues at the C- and N-termini of the mature peptide. To determine the enzymes responsible for proteolysis and their activity at the potential cleavage sites, synthetic human proIAPP was incubated (0.5-16 h) with recombinant prohormone convertases, PC2 or PC3 at appropriate conditions of calcium and pH. The products were analysed by MS and HPLC. Proinsulin was used as a control and was cleaved by both recombinant enzymes resulting in intermediates. PC3 was active initially at the N-terminal-IAPP junction and later at the C-terminus, whereas initial PC2 activity was at the IAPP-C-terminal junction. Processing at the basic residues within the C-terminal flanking peptide rarely occurred. There was no evidence for substantial competition for the processing enzymes when the combined substrates proinsulin and proIAPP were incubated with both PC2 and PC3. As proinsulin cleavage is sequential in vivo (PC3 active at the B-chain-C-peptide junction, followed by PC2 at A chain-C-peptide junction), these data suggest that proteolysis of proIAPP and proinsulin is coincident in secretory granules and increased proinsulin secretion in diabetes could be accompanied by increased production of proIAPP.     

Silybins inhibit human IAPP amyloid growth and toxicity through stereospecific interactions

Type 2 Diabetes is a major public health threat, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. The abnormal accumulation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in pancreatic β-cells is associated with the onset of the disease. Therefore, the design of small molecules able to inhibit IAPP aggregation represents a promising strategy in the development of new therapies. Here we employ in vitro, biophysical, and computational methods to inspect the ability of Silybin A and Silybin B, two natural diastereoisomers extracted from milk thistle, to interfere with the toxic self-assembly of human IAPP (hIAPP). We show that Silybin B inhibits amyloid aggregation and protects INS-1 cells from hIAPP toxicity more than Silybin A. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the higher efficiency of Silybin B is ascribable to its interactions with precise hIAPP regions that are notoriously involved in hIAPP self-assembly i.e., the S20-S29 amyloidogenic core, H18, the N-terminal domain, and N35. These results highlight the importance of stereospecific ligand-peptide interactions in regulating amyloid aggregation and provide a blueprint for future studies aimed at designing Silybin derivatives with enhanced drug-like properties.     

Cyclic N-Terminal Loop of Amylin Forms Non Amyloid Fibers

We report for the first time, to our knowledge, that the N-terminal loop (N_loop) of amylin (islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) residues 1–8) forms extremely long and stable non-β-sheet fibers in solution under the same conditions in which human amylin (hIAPP) forms amyloid fibers. This observation applies to the cyclic, oxidized form of the N_loop but not to the linear, reduced form, which does not form fibers. Our findings indicate a potential role of direct N_loop-N_loop interactions in hIAPP aggregation, which has not been previously explored, with important implications for the mechanism of hIAPP amyloid fiber formation, the inhibitory action of IAPP variants, and the competition between ordered and disordered aggregation in peptides of the calcitonin peptide family.     

Wolbachia infection decreased the resistance of Drosophila to lead

Background

The heavy metal lead has been shown to be associated with a genotoxic risk. Drosophila melanogaster is a model organism commonly utilized in genetic toxicology testing. The endosymbionts — Wolbachia are now very common in both wild populations and laboratory stocks of Drosophila. Wolbachia may induce resistance to pathogenic viruses, filarial nematodes and Plasmodium in fruit fly and mosquito hosts. However the effect of Wolbachia infection on the resistance of their hosts to heavy metal is unknown.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Manipulating the lead content in the diet of Drosophila melanogaster, we found that lead consumption had no different effects on developmental time between Wolbachia-infected (Dmel wMel) and –uninfected (Dmel T) flies. While in Pb-contaminated medium, significantly reduced amount of pupae and adults of Dmel wMel were emerged, and Dmel wMel adults had significantly shorter longevity than that of Dmel T flies. Lead infusion in diet resulted in significantly decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in Dmel T flies (P<0.05), but not in Dmel wMel flies. Correspondingly, lead cultures induced a 10.8 fold increase in malonaldehyde (MDA) contents in Dmel T larvae (P<0.05). While in Dmel wMel larvae, it resulted in only a 1.3 fold increase. By quantitative RT-PCR, we showed that lead infused medium caused significantly increased expression level of relish and CecA2 genes in Dmel T flies (P<0.01). Lead cultures did not change dramatically the expression of these genes in Dmel wMel flies.

Conclusions/Significance

These results suggest that Wolbachia infection decreased the resistance of Drosophila to lead likely by limiting the production of peroxides resulted from lead, thus being unable to activate the immunological pathway in the host to prevent them from lead damage. This represents a novel Wolbachia–host interaction and provides information that researchers working on Drosophila toxicology should take in consideration the presence of Wolbachia in the stocks they are analyzing.     

Induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced beta-cell apoptosis and accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins by human islet amyloid polypeptide

The islet in type 2 diabetes is characterized by an approximately 60% beta-cell deficit, increased beta-cell apoptosis, and islet amyloid derived from islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). Human IAPP (hIAPP) but not rodent IAPP (rIAPP) forms toxic oligomers and amyloid fibrils in an aqueous environment. We previously reported that overexpression of hIAPP in transgenic rats triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis in beta-cells. In the present study, we sought to establish whether the cytotoxic effects of hIAPP depend on its propensity to oligomerize, rather than as a consequence of protein overexpression. To accomplish this, we established a novel homozygous mouse model overexpressing rIAPP at a comparable expression rate and, on the same background, as a homozygous transgenic hIAPP mouse model previously reported to develop diabetes associated with beta-cell loss. We report that by 10 wk of age hIAPP mice develop diabetes with a deficit in beta-cell mass due to increased beta-cell apoptosis. The rIAPP transgenic mice counterparts do not develop diabetes or have decreased beta-cell mass. Both rIAPP and hIAPP transgenic mice have increased expression of BiP, but only hIAPP transgenic mice have elevated ER stress markers (X-box-binding protein-1, nuclear localized CCAAT/enhancer binding-protein homologous protein, active caspase-12, and accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins). These findings indicate that the beta-cell toxic effects of hIAPP depend on the propensity of IAPP to aggregate, but not on the consequence of protein overexpression.     

Atmospheric Hypoxia Limits Selection for Large Body Size in Insects

Background

The correlations between Phanerozoic atmospheric oxygen fluctuations and insect body size suggest that higher oxygen levels facilitate the evolution of larger size in insects.

Methods and Principal Findings

Testing this hypothesis we selected Drosophila melanogaster for large size in three oxygen atmospheric partial pressures (aPO₂). Fly body sizes increased by 15% during 11 generations of size selection in 21 and 40 kPa aPO₂. However, in 10 kPa aPO₂, sizes were strongly reduced. Beginning at the 12^th generation, flies were returned to normoxia. All flies had similar, enlarged sizes relative to the starting populations, demonstrating that selection for large size had functionally equivalent genetic effects on size that were independent of aPO₂.

Significance

Hypoxia provided a physical constraint on body size even in a tiny insect strongly selected for larger mass, supporting the hypothesis that Triassic hypoxia may have contributed to a reduction in insect size.     

Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Reduces Islet Amyloid Formation by Degrading Islet Amyloid Polypeptide

Deposition of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) as amyloid is a pathological hallmark of the islet in type 2 diabetes, which is toxic to β-cells. We previously showed that the enzyme neprilysin reduces islet amyloid deposition and thereby reduces β-cell apoptosis, by inhibiting fibril formation. Two other enzymes, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, are extracellular gelatinases capable of degrading another amyloidogenic peptide, Aβ, the constituent of amyloid deposits in Alzheimer disease. We therefore investigated whether MMP-2 and MMP-9 play a role in reducing islet amyloid deposition. MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA were present in mouse islets but only MMP-9 activity was detectable. In an islet culture model where human IAPP (hIAPP) transgenic mouse islets develop amyloid but nontransgenic islets do not, a broad spectrum MMP inhibitor (GM6001) and an MMP-2/9 inhibitor increased amyloid formation and the resultant β-cell apoptosis. In contrast, a specific MMP-2 inhibitor had no effect on either amyloid deposition or β-cell apoptosis. Mass spectrometry demonstrated that MMP-9 degraded amyloidogenic hIAPP but not nonamyloidogenic mouse IAPP. Thus, MMP-9 constitutes an endogenous islet protease that limits islet amyloid deposition and its toxic effects via degradation of hIAPP. Because islet MMP-9 mRNA levels are decreased in type 2 diabetic subjects, islet MMP-9 activity may also be decreased in human type 2 diabetes, thereby contributing to increased islet amyloid deposition and β-cell loss. Approaches to increase islet MMP-9 activity could reduce or prevent amyloid deposition and its toxic effects in type 2 diabetes.     

Cyclic N-Terminal Loop of Amylin Forms Non Amyloid Fibers

We report for the first time, to our knowledge, that the N-terminal loop (N_loop) of amylin (islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) residues 1–8) forms extremely long and stable non-β-sheet fibers in solution under the same conditions in which human amylin (hIAPP) forms amyloid fibers. This observation applies to the cyclic, oxidized form of the N_loop but not to the linear, reduced form, which does not form fibers. Our findings indicate a potential role of direct N_loop-N_loop interactions in hIAPP aggregation, which has not been previously explored, with important implications for the mechanism of hIAPP amyloid fiber formation, the inhibitory action of IAPP variants, and the competition between ordered and disordered aggregation in peptides of the calcitonin peptide family.