title: Cell polarity defines three distinct domains in pancreatic β-cells.
abstract: The structural organisation of pancreatic β-cells in the islets of Langerhans is relatively unknown. Here, using three-dimensional (3D) two-photon, 3D confocal and 3D block-face serial electron microscopy, we demonstrate a consistent in situ polarisation of β-cells and define three distinct cell surface domains. An apical domain located at the vascular apogee of β-cells, defined by the location of PAR-3 (also known as PARD3) and ZO-1 (also known as TJP1), delineates an extracellular space into which adjacent β-cells project their primary cilia. A separate lateral domain, is enriched in scribble and Dlg, and colocalises with E-cadherin and GLUT2 (also known as SLC2A2). Finally, a distinct basal domain, where the β-cells contact the islet vasculature, is enriched in synaptic scaffold proteins such as liprin. This 3D analysis of β-cells within intact islets, and the definition of distinct domains, provides new insights into understanding β-cell structure and function.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.|Charles Perkins Centre, John Hopkins Drive, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Wan J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zavortink
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ludick
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Templin
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Charles Perkins Centre, John Hopkins Drive, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poronnik
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.|Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Parton
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S1A8, Canada.
authors.forename: Herbert Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Gaisano
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Annette M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Shewan
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia p.thorn@sydney.edu.au.|Charles Perkins Centre, John Hopkins Drive, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thorn
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology; D016764:Cell Polarity; D051273:Glucose Transporter Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000074407:SAP90-PSD95 Associated Proteins; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D051273:Glucose Transporter Type 2; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000074407:SAP90-PSD95 Associated Proteins; C508433:scrib protein, mouse
keywords: Diabetes; Insulin; Islet; Polarity; β-Cell