Glucose activates the multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in isolated rat pancreatic islets.

The influence of the insulin secretagogues, glucose and K+, to activate the multifunctional, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) in isolated rat pancreatic islets has been examined. Glucose (28 mM) and K+ (40 mM) were demonstrated to induce a 1.89 +/- 0.19- and 1.75 +/- 0.15-fold increase, respectively, in phosphorylation of a subunit of CaM kinase II immunoprecipitated by an anti-CaM kinase II alpha antibody. In intact islets, glucose and K+ also induced the generation of an autonomous, Ca2+/calmodulin-independent protein kinase II activity characteristic of autophosphorylated enzyme. Maximal activation, 2.9 +/- 0.2- and 3.0 +/- 0.5-fold for glucose and K+, respectively, relative to basal glucose control, was achieved at 2.5-5 min followed by a decline to near basal levels by 20 min. Glucose induced the production of autonomous CaM kinase II activity that, in terms of -fold stimulation, correlated closely with the extent of insulin release over a glucose concentration range of 3-28 mM. This stimulated activity was completely prevented by an inhibitor of glucose metabolism, mannoheptulose. These data demonstrate that the exposure of islets to stimulatory glucose concentrations activates CaM kinase II. The close correlation of enzyme activation with insulin secretion is consistent with the hypothesis that CaM kinase II plays an important role in the regulation of insulin secretion or related beta-cell processes.