Horm Metab Res 1976; 8(1): 7-11
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1093684
Originals

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Interactions between the Metabolism of L-Leucine and D-Glucose in the Pancreatic β-Cells

E.  Gylfe , J.  Sehlin
  • Department of Histology, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 December 2008 (online)

Abstract

β-Cell-rich pancreatic islets micro dissected from obese-hyperglycemic mice were used to study interactions between the metabolism of L-leucinc and D-glucose. L-leucine reduced the islet content of aspartic acid whereas D-glucose, when added to L-leucine-incubatcd islets, increased the contents of aspartic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). D-glucose also increased the incorporation of L-leucine carbon into aspartic acid, GABA and glutamic acid suggesting stimulation of a malate shuttle mechanism. When expressed per mole of the individual amino acids, the incorporation of Lleucine carbon into GABA was 2.5-4 times higher than into glutamic acid indicating intracellular compartmentation of the latter amino acid. Both L-leucine and D-leucine stimulated 14CO2 production from 14C-labelled D-glucose. L-leucine did not affect 3H2O production from tritiated D-glucose. The present data do not indicate a role of other amino acids or D-glucose in L-leucine-stimulated insulin release.