Ca2+-induced loss of ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase ii activity in pancreatic [beta]-cells. Jones, Peter M., and Shanta J. Persaud. Cellular and Molecular Endocrinology Group, Biomedical Sciences Division, King's College London, London W8 7AH, England.
APStracts 4:0286E, 1997.
Elevations in intracellular Ca2+ in electrically permeabilized islets of Langerhans produced rapid insulin secretory responses from [beta] -cells, but the Ca2+-induced secretion was not maintained, and was irrespective of the pattern of administration of elevated Ca2+. Ca2+ -insensitive _[beta]_-cells responded normally to activators of protein kinase C or cyclic AMP-dependent kinase with increased insulin secretion. The loss of secretory responsiveness to Ca2+ was paralleled by a reduction in Ca2+-induced protein phosphorylation. This was caused by a reduction in Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) activity in the desensitized cells as assessed by measuring the phosphorylation of a CaMK II specific exogenous substrate, autocamtide-2. The Ca2+-induced reductions in kinase activity and protein phosphorylation were not dependent upon the activation of Ca2+-dependent protein kinases, and were not caused by the activation of phosphoprotein phosphatases or of Ca2+-activated proteases. The concomitant reductions in CaMK II activity and Ca2+ -induced insulin secretion suggest that the activation of CaMK II is required for normal insulin secretory responses to increased intracellular Ca2+ concentrations.

Received 11 June 1997; accepted in final form 18 December 1997.
APS Manuscript Number E271-7.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1997 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 7 January 1998