title: Transglutaminase activity in pancreatic islets.
abstract: 1. Pancreatic islet homogenates catalyze, in a Ca2+-dependent fashion, the incorporation of [2,5-3H]histamine, [1,4-14C]putrescine, [1,2-3H]agmatine, [14C]methylamine and L-[U-14C]lysine in N,N-dimethylcasein. 2. Using [2,5-3H]histamine as the amine donor, the Km for Ca2+ and histamine amounts to 90 microM and 0.7 mM, respectively. 3. The incorporation of [2,5-3H]histamine into N,N-dimethylcasein is inhibited by monodansylcadaverine, N-p-tosyl glycine, bacitracin and methylamine, the relative extent of inhibition depending on the respective concentrations of Ca2+, inhibitor and amine donor. 4. Bacitracin and methylamine, but not N-p-tosyl glycine, cause a dose-related inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin release. 5. It is concluded that, in pancreatic islets, the Ca2+-responsive transglutaminase activity plays a critical role in the process of glucose-induced insulin release.
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D011503:Transglutaminases
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D000217:Acyltransferases; D011503:Transglutaminases; D005947:Glucose; D002118:Calcium