Elevation in Intracellular Long-Chain Acyl-Coenzyme A Esters Lead to Reduced β-Cell Excitability via Activation of Adenosine 5′-Triphosphate-Sensitive Potassium Channels

Abstract

Closure of pancreatic β-cell ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels links glucose metabolism to electrical activity and insulin secretion. It is now known that saturated, but not polyunsaturated, long-chain acyl-coenyzme A esters (acyl-CoAs) can potently activate KATP channels when superfused directly across excised membrane patches, suggesting a plausible mechanism to account for reduced β-cell excitability and insulin secretion observed in obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, reduced β-cell excitability due to elevation of endogenous saturated acyl-CoAs has not been confirmed in intact pancreatic β-cells. To test this notion directly, endogenous acyl-CoA levels were elevated within primary mouse β-cells using virally delivered overexpression of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase-1 (AdACSL-1), and the effects on β-cell KATP channel activity and cell excitability was assessed using the perforated whole-cell and cell-attached patch-clamp technique. Data indicated a significant increase in KATP channel activity in AdACSL-1-infected β-cells cultured in medium supplemented with palmitate/oleate but not with the polyunsaturated fat linoleate. No changes in the ATP/ADP ratio were observed in any of the groups. Furthermore, AdACSL-1-infected β-cells (with palmitate/oleate) showed a significant decrease in electrical responsiveness to glucose and tolbutamide and a hyperpolarized resting membrane potential at 5 mm glucose. These results suggest a direct link between intracellular fatty ester accumulation and KATP channel activation, which may contribute to β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.