Mechanisms of inhibition of insulin release. Sharp, Geoffrey W. G. Department of Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell university, Ithaca, NY 14853
APStracts 3:0195C, 1996.
Several agonists including norepinephrine, somatostatin, galanin and prostaglandins inhibit insulin release. The inhibition is sensitive to pertussis toxin, indicating the involvement of heterotrimeric Gi and/or Go-proteins. Receptors for the different agonists have different selectivity for these G proteins. After G protein activation, the [alpha] and bg subunits dissociate and interact with multiple targets to inhibit release. These include: 1. the KATP channel, and perhaps other K+ channels. 2. L-type voltage dependent Ca2+-channels. 3. adenylyl cyclase. and 4. a "distal" site late in stimulus-secretion coupling. The latter effect, which may be exerted close to the final stage of exocytosis, is the most powerful of the individual inhibitory mechanisms. G-protein action on the target molecules is determined by the individual G-proteins activated and their specificity for the targets. The L-type Ca2+-channel is inhibited by Go1. Adenylyl cyclase is inhibited by Gi2 and Gi3. The distal inhibition can be exerted by Gi1, Gi2, Gi3, and Go2. Thus, there is both selectivity and promiscuity in G-protein action in the [beta]-cell. These characteristics allow an inhibitory ligand to be effective at multiple targets and to act differentially from other inhibitory ligands.

Received 21 May 1996; accepted in final form 11 June 1996.
APS Manuscript Number C327-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 4 July 96