Peter F. Drain, P.h.D

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Peter F. Drain, PhD
Associate Professor
Tel: 412-648-9412
Fax: 412-648-8330
drain@pitt.edu
PubMed pub. listing

Our laboratory studies insulin secretion and structure-mechanism relations underlying the ATP-inhibited potassium (KATP) channel response to physiologically important ligands, ATP, ADP, and anti-diabetic sulfonylureas. In pancreatic beta cells, the KATP channel brings insulin secretion under the control of blood glucose levels. Our major goal is to establish the molecular mechanisms underlying how ATP binding to the KATP channel signaling changes in glucose metabolism, in turn, signals commensurate changes in insulin granule exocytosis. Normally, the fraction of time the KATP channel spends in the inhibited state determines insulin secretory rates. When this regulation goes awry, serious complications at the whole-organism level lead to diabetes and other diseases. Recently, we have demonstrated how ATP binding to the Kir6.2 subunit of the KATP channel electrostatically couples to the transmembrane domain to cause gate closure. One of the positions of the KATP channel required for this signaling is mutated in the conserved position of the human KATP channel in permanent neonatal diabetes (PNDM). We have also combined confocal fluorescence microscopy and a novel molecular strategy to visualize insulin secretion in live cells. The Ins-C-GFP reporter has exploded our ability to look inside live insulin-secreting cells to study glucose-stimulated insulin granule transport and exocytosis. Using this approach we have localized KATP channels to insulin secretory granules. We are currently investigating the role of granule KATP channels in insulin secretion. Finally, we are using the Ins-C-GFP reporter together with the mouse body wall window technique for unprecedented live-cell imaging of Ins-C-GFP labeled human islets in diabetic NODscid mice to characterize parameters associated with successful transplantation. Trainees in our laboratory have the opportunity to combine the techniques of molecular genetics and confocal live-cell fluorescence imaging, with transgenic techniques to integrate understanding at the molecular, whole cell, organ, and organism level.

Geng, Xue Hui

X. Geng, L. Li, R. Bottino, A.N. Balamurugan, S. Bertera, . Densmore, A. Su, Y. Chang, M. Trucco, P. Drain. 2007. Antidiabetic sulfonylurea stimulates insulin secretion independently of plasma membrane KATP channels. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 293:E293-E301.
D.J. Michael, W. Xiong, X. Geng, P. Drain, and R.H. Chow. 2007. Human Insulin Vesicle Dynamics During Pulsatile Secretion. Diabetes 56:1277-1288.
K. Nakahira, H.P. Kim, X. Geng, A. Nakao, N. Murase, P. F. Drain, Wang X, Shaw-Fang Yet S-F, Nabel EG, Takahashi T, Morita K, Choi, AMK. 2006. Carbon monoxide differentially inhibits TLRs signaling pathways by regulating ROS-induced trafficking of TLRs to lipid rafts. The Journal of Experimental Medicine 203:2377-89.
L. Li, X. Geng, M. Yonkunas, A. Su, E. Densmore, P. Tang, and P. Drain. 2005. Ligand-Dependent Linkage of the ATP Site to Inhibition Gate Closure of the KATP Channel, J. Gen. Physiology 126: 285-299.
Drain, P., X. Geng, and L. Li. 2004. Concerted gating mechanism underlying KATP channel inhibition by ATP. Biophysical J. 86:2101-2112.
Geng, X., Li, L., Watkins, S., Robbins, P.D., and Drain, P. 2003. The Glucose-Regulated Pancreatic KATP Channel Is Targeted to the Insulin Secretory Granule. Diabetes 52:767-776.
Watkins, S., Geng, X., Li, L., Papworth, G., Robbins, P.D., and Drain, P. 2002. Image Secretory Vesicles by Fluorescent Protein Insertion into Propeptide Rather Than Mature Secreted Peptide. Traffic 3: 461-471.
Li, L., X. Geng, and P. Drain. 2002. Open state destabilization by ATP occupancy is mechanism speeding burst exit underlying K¬ATP channel inhibition by ATP. J. Gen. Physiol. 199:105-116.
Li, L., J. Wang, and P. Drain. 2000. I182 of Kir6.2 Is Closely Associated With Ligand Binding Steps In The Mechanism By Which ATP Inhibits the KATP Channel. Biophysical J. 79: 841-852.
Drain, P., L. Li, and J. Wang. 1998. KATP channel inhibition by ATP requires distinct functional domains of the cytoplasmic C terminus of the pore-forming subunit. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95: 13953-13958.