# Elucidating how transcription factors MAFA and MAFB and mitochondrial activity control human β cell identity and function

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2024 · $152,453

## Abstract

Project Summary
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) can be attributed to loss of β-cell identity or de-differentiation, marked by acquisition of
immature cell markers and loss of insulin expression and secretion. While the etiology of β-cell immaturity in T2D
is unclear, impairments in nuclear-encoded mitochondrial gene expression and transcription factor (TF)
expression occur. Additionally, defects in mitochondrial structure and function leads to impaired glucose-
stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and have been reported in β-cells of human T2D patients. Interestingly, the
transcriptional changes that occur during β-cell immaturity involve loss of the nuclear-encoded mitochondrial
gene expression program. My studies will test the hypothesis that β-cell immaturity in T2D is driven by loss of
mitochondrial functional gene regulation by the TFs MAF bZIP transcription factor A (MAFA) or B (MAFB).
Furthermore, I predict that MAFA/MAFB are themselves targets of mito-nuclear crosstalk through a retrograde
signaling cascade induced by defects in mitochondrial function.
 I will elucidate the contribution of MAFA and MAFB on metabolic control in human β cells through
regulation of mitochondrial function (Aim 1). I will determine how loss of MAFA and/or MAFB affects
mitochondrial function and β cell identity by assaying oxygen consumption and gene expression in MAFA and/or
MAFB knockdown human pseudoislets and EndoC-βH3 β cell lines. Metabolomics will be performed on EndoC-
βH3 β cell lines to determine how MAFA/B influences fuel utilization. My preliminary data shows that genetic loss
of mitophagy (i.e., the balance of mitochondrial biogenesis and turnover) reduces β-cell maturity. This includes
physiologic, metabolic, and transcriptional signatures consistent with metabolic overload, oxidative damage, and
the integrated stress response (ISR). MAFA (and likely MAFB) is known to be more sensitive to oxidative stress
associated with T2D β-cell dysfunction than other TFs. While nuclear expression of β-cell mitochondrial genes
are well known, mitochondrial feedback to drive β-cell nuclear gene expression (retrograde signaling) has not
been analyzed. I will delineate if TF levels and β-cell maturity are altered in response to mitochondrial dysfunction
(Aim 2). Further, I observed that pharmacological inhibition of the ISR relieves markers of immaturity in islets of
mitophagy-deficient mice. Utilizing pharmacologic tools and analysis of gene expression in human pseudoislet
transplants and EndoC-βH3 cells, I will interrogate how such conditions impact human β cells. I expect that
MAFA (and possibly MAFB) levels will be reduced because of their ISR sensitivity. Moreover, I will determine if
inhibition of the ISR restores MAFA/MAFB expression and reverses β-cell immaturity in the background of
mitochondrial damage.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10794387
- **Project number:** 5K01DK133533-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Emily M Walker
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $152,453
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2028-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10794387

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10794387, Elucidating how transcription factors MAFA and MAFB and mitochondrial activity control human β cell identity and function (5K01DK133533-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10794387. Licensed CC0.

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