Ephs and ephrins keep pancreatic Beta cells connected.
How insulin-secreting beta cells of the pancreas communicate with each other is largely unknown. In this issue of Cell, Konstantinova et al. (2007) show that the signaling proteins EphA and ephrin-A modulate insulin secretion, providing fresh insights into the functional significance of the clustering of beta cells, which occurs in islets.
Kulkarni
Rohit N
RN
Division of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA 02215, USA. rohit.kulkarni@joslin.harvard.edu
Kahn
C Ronald
CR
D000818:Animals; D036342:Ephrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family / Q000378:metabolism*
D036342:Ephrins; D007328:Insulin; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family; D005947:Glucose