Question

Pancreatic β cells release insulin from intracellular vesicles. This release is regulated in part by the activity of glucokinase. How would insulin release be affected if pancreatic β cells were mutated to express hexokinase rather than glucokinase?

Answer 1

Beta cells (β cells) are a type of cell found in pancreatic islets, synthesising and secreting insulin and amylin. Beta-cell mass and function diminish in patients with type I or type II diabetes, resulting in inadequate insulin secretion and hyperglycemia.

If hexokinase was expressed rather than glucokinase, the release of insulin from pancreatic β cells would be constant, and changes in serum glucose would not affect the expression of insuline.