343-LB: The Type 2 Diabetes-Associated Lipid Binding Protein STARD10 Controls Insulin Secretory Granule Biogenesis

Aim: Risk alleles for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the STARD10 locus, impair insulin secretion and are associated with decreased proinsulin:insulin ratios. We have shown that the T2D risk associated with variation at this locus is likely to be mediated through lowered STARD10 expression in the β cell. Here, we investigate the mechanisms by which STARD10 may regulate insulin secretion.

Materials and Methods: A 3-dimensional model of STARD10 was constructed from the structure of STARD2, using the modelling tools Chimera and Modeller. Islets were isolated from StarD10^fl/fl-Ins1Cre male mice (βStarD10KO). Electron Microscopy (EM) images were obtained from isolated islets after chemical fixation. Total zinc content was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Pulse-chase analysis of proinsulin processing was performed using ³⁵S-labelled amino acids. RNA-Seq was done on polyadenylated transcripts selected during the preparation of paired-end, directional RNAseq libraries, sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq 4000 machine.

Results: Molecular modelling indicated that STARD10 binds either phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine. EM analysis of islets from βStarD10KO mice revealed a markedly altered dense core granule appearance, with a dramatic increase (Fold change = 4.3; p<0.001) in "rod like" dense cores, and a ∼2-fold increase in total islet zinc content. Unexpectedly, pulse-chase studies revealed enhanced basal secretion of newly-synthesised proinsulin from βStarD10KO islets. Whilst RNA sequencing identified several dysregulated genes in βStarD10KO islets, STARD10 deletion did not affect prohormone convertase (Pcsk1, Pcsk2), or ZnT8 (Slc30a8) expression.

Conclusion: We identify STARD10 as a critical regulator of insulin granule biogenesis and β cell zinc homeostasis. Our data also suggest that increased β cell Zn²⁺ secretion in risk allele carriers may decrease the clearance of mature insulin to lower plasma proinsulin:insulin ratio.