A chemical-genetic approach to study G protein regulation of beta cell function in vivo.

ABSTRACT: Impaired functioning of pancreatic beta cells is a key hallmark of type 2 diabetes. beta cell function is modulated by the actions of different classes of heterotrimeric G proteins. The functional consequences of activating specific beta cell G protein signaling pathways in vivo are not well understood at present, primarily due to the fact that beta cell G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are also expressed by many other tissues. To circumvent these difficulties, we developed a chemical-genetic approach that allows for the conditional and selective activation of specific beta cell G proteins in intact animals. Specifically, we created two lines of transgenic mice each of which expressed a specific designer GPCR in beta cells only. Importantly, the two designer receptors differed in their

SUBMITTER: Guettier JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2767362 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature