Control of pancreatic β-cell bioenergetics

Charles Affourtit, Ben Alberts, Jonathan Barlow, Jane E Carré, Anthony G Wynne

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

The canonical model of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) by pancreatic β-cells predicts a glucose-induced rise in the cytosolic ATP/ADP ratio. Such bioenergetic sensitivity to metabolic fuel is unusual as it implies that ATP flux is governed, to a significant extent, by ATP supply, while it is predominantly demand-driven in other cell types. Metabolic control is generally shared between different processes, but potential control of ATP consumption over β-cell bioenergetics has been largely ignored to date. The present paper offers a brief overview of experimental evidence that demonstrates ATP flux control by glucose-fuelled oxidative phosphorylation. Based on old and new data, it is argued that ATP supply does not hold exclusive control over ATP flux, but shares it with ATP demand, and that the distribution of control is flexible. Quantification of the bioenergetic control distribution will be important from basic and clinical perspectives, but precise measurement of the cytosolic ATP/ADP ratio is complicated by adenine nucleotide compartmentalisation. Metabolic control analysis of β-cell bioenergetics will likely clarify the mechanisms by which glucose and fatty acids amplify and potentiate GSIS, respectively. Moreover, such analysis may offer hints as to how ATP flux control shifts from ATP supply to ATP demand during the development of type 2 diabetes, and why prolonged sulfonylurea treatment causes β-cell deterioration.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)555-564
Number of pages10
JournalBiochemical Society Transactions
Volume46
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Jun 2018

Bibliographical note

© 2018 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.

Keywords

  • Adenosine Diphosphate/metabolism
  • Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Glucose/metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin/metabolism
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Islets of Langerhans/metabolism

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