Pancreatic β cells put the glutamine engine in reverse

Cell Metab. 2021 Apr 6;33(4):702-704. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.03.010.

Abstract

The metabolism of nutrients other than glucose influences insulin secretion by pancreatic β cells, but the mechanisms involved are incompletely understood. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Zhang et al. (2020) report that reductive glutamine metabolism generates cytosolic NADPH to promote insulin secretion by β cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glutamine / metabolism
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells* / metabolism
  • NADP / metabolism

Substances

  • Glutamine
  • NADP
  • Glucose