title: Rab27a: a new face in beta cell metabolism-secretion coupling.
abstract: In pancreatic beta cells, not only insulin exocytosis per se, but translocation of beta granules toward the plasma membrane--an event upstream of exocytosis--are under the control of glucose. However, the molecular basis of this translocation has been poorly understood. Rab27a-mediated translocation of glucose-induced beta granules is reported in this issue of the JCI. Rab27a or its effector molecule may constitute a novel pharmacological target because potentiation of the Rab27a pathway is expected to restore beta cell glucose competency in patients with diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health, Safety, and Environmental Management and Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Aging Medicine and Geriatrics, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Japan. taizawa@gipac.shinshu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: Mitsuhisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komatsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075745:rab27 GTP-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D000075745:rab27 GTP-Binding Proteins; C066694:RAB27A protein, human; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins; D005947:Glucose