PHOSPHOINOSITIDE METABOLISM AND INSULIN-SECRETION

Secretion of insulin from beta cells of the pancreatic islets is regulated by glucose, its anaerobic metabolism and its metabolites. The phospholipids of the cell membrane the phosphoinositides are broken down by the activation of the enzyme phospholipase C either through the occupation of the receptor by an agonist or through the metabolism of glucose in the anaerobic glycolytic pathway. The hydrolysis of the phosphotidyl inositide-bis-phosphate yields to the generation of Inositol 1, 4, 5-tris-phosphate and diacylglycerol. Ins-1, 4, 5-P3 increases the intracellular Ca2+ by releasing the sequestered Ca2+ in the endoplasmic reticulum and diacylglycerol activates the enzyme protein kinase C.