title: The stimulus-secretion coupling of amino acid-induced insulin release. Secretory and oxidative response of pancreatic islets to L-asparagine.
abstract: L-Asparagine (2-10 mM) failed to affect insulin secretion from rat pancreatic islets incubated in the absence of exogenous nutrient or presence of D-glucose, but caused a dose-related and progressive enhancement of insulin release evoked by L-leucine, 2-aminobicyclo[2,2,1]heptane-2-carboxylate, or 2-ketoisocaproate. The secretory response to the combination of L-asparagine and L-leucine was augmented by theophylline and inhibited in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ or presence of either menadione or methylamine. L-Asparagine augmented leucine-stimulated 45Ca net uptake. The ATP content, rate of O2 uptake, and malate/pyruvate ratio were not significantly different in islets exposed to L-leucine alone or to both L-asparagine and L-leucine, respectively. In the sole presence of L-asparagine, however, the malate/oxalacetate ratio was decreased and the malate/pyruvate ratio increased, relative to basal values. It is proposed that the enhancing action of L-asparagine upon insulin release evoked by L-leucine might be due to an accelerated generation rate of cytosolic NADPH, rather than to any sizable increase in either islet respiration or steady-state cytosolic NADPH/NADP+ ratio.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001216:Asparagine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007651:Keto Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007930:Leucine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008293:Malates / Q000378:metabolism; D010071:Oxaloacetates / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000378:metabolism; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D051381:Rats; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D007328:Insulin; D007651:Keto Acids; D008293:Malates; D010071:Oxaloacetates; D011773:Pyruvates; D001216:Asparagine; C013082:alpha-ketoisocaproic acid; C030298:malic acid; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D013806:Theophylline; D007930:Leucine; D002118:Calcium