Molecular analysis of the exocytotic machinery underlying insulin secretion

Insulin is a hormone secreted exclusively by beta cells of the pancreatic islets in response to an increase of blood glucose concentration. The release of insulin requires the fusion of insulin containing secretary granules with the plasma membrane through exocytosis. Secreted insulin acts as a messenger to instruct our cells to absorb glucose, in effect reducing blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the beta cells can no longer compensate for the prolonged high elevations of glucose leading to insufficient insulin secretion. This project aims to understand exocytotic mechanisms underlying insulin secretion from beta cells in normal physiological conditions and how this is altered in Type 2 related hyperglycemia.