Transcriptional and translational control of glucose-stimulated (pro)insulin biosynthesis

Islets of Langerhans were isolated from the pancreata of fed or 48-h-fasted Wistar rats. The islets were incubated with either [3H]leucine of [3H]uridine. Inhibition of RNA synthesis by actinomycin D or by alpha-amanitin for 4 h had no influence on the (pro)insulin biosynthesis of isolated islets of fed rats. The (pro)insulin biosynthesis was not inhibited after two days incubation of islets of fed rats with alpha-amanitin either. Incorporation of labelled uridine into total RNA for 3 h was stimulated by glucose in islets of fasted, but not of fed rats. Therefore, it was concluded that transcriptional control does not participate, even for longer periods than believed previously, in acute regulation of (pro)insulin biosynthesis of islets isolated fed rats. Despite the strong and preferential stimulation of (pro)insulin biosynthesis of islets of fed rats by glucose the radioactivity of the [3H]uridine-labelled polysomes active in proinsulin synthesis remained unchanged. To interprete these experimental data we suggest that glucose triggers the transformation of a translationally inactive form of pre-proinsulin mRNA to a translationally active form.