This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Romero-Navarro, G. Articles by Fernandez-Mejia, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Romero-Navarro, G. Articles by Fernandez-Mejia, C.

Biotin Regulation of Pancreatic Glucokinase and Insulin in Primary Cultured Rat Islets and in Biotin- Deficient Rats¹

From the Nutritional Genetics Unit (G.R.N., G.C.V., A.V., C.F.M.) Biomedical Research Institute, National University of Mexico; Hormone Research Institute (M.S.G., J.W.) University of California San Francisco; and Diabetes Research Center (F.M.M.) University of Pennsylvania, Medical Center

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Cristina Fernandez-Mejia, Unidad de Genetica de la Nutricion, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM)/Instituto Nacional de Pediatria (INP), Av. del Iman 1, 4th floor, Mexico City, C.P. 04530, Mexico. E-mail: crisfern{at}servidor.unam.mx

Biotin has been reported to affect glucose homeostasis; however, its role on pancreatic islets of Langerhans has not been assessed. In this report, we demonstrate that physiologic concentrations of biotin stimulate glucokinase activity in rat islets in culture. Using the branched DNA (bDNA) assay, a sensitive signal amplification technique, we detected relative increases in glucokinase mRNA levels of 41.5 ± 13.% and 81.3 ± 19% at 12 and 24 h respectively in islets treated with [10^-6 M] biotin. Because glucokinase activity controls insulin secretion, we also investigated the effect of biotin on insulin release. Treatment with [10^-6 M] biotin for 24 h increased insulin secretion. We extended our studies by analyzing the effect of biotin deficiency on pancreatic islet glucokinase expression and activity, as well as insulin secretion. Our results show that islet glucokinase activity and mRNA are reduced by 50% in the biotin deficient rat. Insulin secretion in response to glucose was also impaired in islets isolated from the deficient rat. These data show that biotin affects pancreatic islet glucokinase activity and expression and insulin secretion in cultured islets.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Yoshida, K. Murao, H. Imachi, W. M. Cao, X. Yu, J. Li, R. A. M. Ahmed, N. Kitanaka, N. C. W. Wong, T. G. Unterman, et al. Pancreatic Glucokinase Is Activated by Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Endocrinology, June 1, 2007; 148(6): 2904 - 2913. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Atamna, J. Newberry, R. Erlitzki, C. S. Schultz, and B. N. Ames Biotin Deficiency Inhibits Heme Synthesis and Impairs Mitochondria in Human Lung Fibroblasts J. Nutr., January 1, 2007; 137(1): 25 - 30. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Baez-Saldana and E. Ortega Biotin Deficiency Blocks Thymocyte Maturation, Accelerates Thymus Involution, and Decreases Nose-Rump Length in Mice J. Nutr., August 1, 2004; 134(8): 1970 - 1977. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Baez-Saldana, I. Zendejas-Ruiz, C. Revilla-Monsalve, S. Islas-Andrade, A. Cardenas, A. Rojas-Ochoa, A. Vilches, and C. Fernandez-Mejia Effects of biotin on pyruvate carboxylase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, propionyl-CoA carboxylase, and markers for glucose and lipid homeostasis in type 2 diabetic patients and nondiabetic subjects Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2004; 79(2): 238 - 243. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. M. Matschinsky Regulation of Pancreatic {beta}-Cell Glucokinase: From Basics to Therapeutics Diabetes, December 1, 2002; 51(90003): S394 - 404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Rodriguez-Melendez, S. Cano, S. T. Mendez, and A. Velazquez Biotin Regulates the Genetic Expression of Holocarboxylase Synthetase and Mitochondrial Carboxylases in Rats J. Nutr., July 1, 2001; 131(7): 1909 - 1913. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Fernandez-Mejia, J. Vega-Allende, A. Rojas-Ochoa, M. Rodriguez-Dorantes, G. Romero-Navarro, F. M. Matschinsky, J. Wang, and M. S. German Cyclic Adenosine 3',5'-Monophosphate Increases Pancreatic Glucokinase Activity and Gene Expression Endocrinology, April 1, 2001; 142(4): 1448 - 1452. [Abstract] [Full Text]