KAT2B Is Required for Pancreatic Beta Cell Adaptation to Metabolic Stress by Controlling the Unfolded Protein Response

•The expression of UPR markers is altered in diabetic islets•Loss of Kat2b contributes to defective insulin secretion and β cell compensation•KAT2B regulates an UPR gene program in pancreatic β cells•KAT2B expression is reduced in mouse and human diabetic β cells

SummaryThe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response (UPRer) pathway plays an important role in helping pancreatic β cells to adapt their cellular responses to environmental cues and metabolic stress. Although altered UPRer gene expression appears in rodent and human type 2 diabetic (T2D) islets, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. We show here that germline and β cell-specific disruption of the lysine acetyltransferase 2B (Kat2b) gene in mice leads to impaired insulin secretion and glucose intolerance. Genome-wide analysis of Kat2b-regulated genes and functional assays reveal a critical role for Kat2b in maintaining UPRer gene expression and subsequent β cell function. Importantly, Kat2b expression is decreased in mouse and human diabetic β cells and correlates with UPRer gene expression in normal human islets. In conclusion, Kat2b is a crucial transcriptional regulator for adaptive β cell function during metabolic stress by controlling UPRer and represents a promising target for T2D prevention and treatment.

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