FAD-linked glycerophosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in pancreatic islets of mice with hereditary diabetes.

The mitochondrial enzyme FAD-linked glycerophosphate dehydrogenase plays a key role in the glucose-sensing device of the insulin-producing pancreatic B-cell. Its activity was found to be decreased in islet, but not liver, homogenates of BL/Ks-db/db mice, in which diabetes mellitus represents an inherited disease. The decreased activity of FAD-linked glycerophosphate dehydrogenase contrasted with a normal activity of glutamate dehydrogenase and 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in the islets of db/db mice. It is proposed that a site-specific defect of FAD-linked glycerophosphate dehydrogenase in the pancreatic B-cell might represent a far-from-uncommon causal or contributing factor in the pathogenesis of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.