The insulin secretory response by pancreatic ␤-cells to an acute "square wave" stimulation by glucose is characterized by a first phase that occurs promptly after exposure to glucose, followed by a decrease to a nadir, and a prolonged second phase. The first phase of release is due to the ATP-sensitive K ؉ (K ATP ) channel-dependent (triggering) pathway that increases [Ca 2؉ ] i and has been thought to discharge the granules from a "readily releasable pool." It follows that the second phase entails the preparation of granules for release, perhaps including translocation and priming for fusion competency before exocytosis. The pathways responsible for the second phase include the K ATP channel-dependent pathway because of the need for elevated [Ca 2؉ ] i and additional signals from K ATP channel-independent pathways. The mechanisms underlying these additional signals are unknown. Current hypotheses include increased cytosolic long-chain acyl-CoA, the pyruvatemalate shuttle, glutamate export from mitochondria, and an increased ATP/ADP ratio. In mouse islets, the ␤-cell contains some 13,000 granules, of which ϳ100 are in a "readily releasable" pool. Rates of granule release are slow, e.g., one every 3 s, even at the peak of the first phase of glucose-stimulated release. As both phases of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion can be enhanced by agents such as glucagon-like peptide 1, which increases cyclic AMP levels and protein kinase A activity, or acetylcholine, which increases diacylglycerol levels and protein kinase C activity, a single "readily releasable pool" hypothesis is an inadequate explanation for insulin secretion. Multiple pools available for rapid release or rapid conversion of granules to a rapidly releasable state are required. Diabetes 51 (Suppl. 1):S83-S90, 2002

. Activation of the K ATP channel-independent signaling pathway by the nonhydrolyzable analog of leucine, BCH. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 285: E380-E389, 2003. First published April 22, 2003 10.1152/ ajpendo.00008.2003.-Leucine and glutamine were used to elicit biphasic insulin release in rat pancreatic islets. Leucine did not mimic the full biphasic response of glucose. Glutamine was without effect. However, the combination of the two did mimic the biphasic response. When the ATP-sensitive K ϩ (KATP) channel-independent pathway was studied in the presence of diazoxide and KCl, leucine and its nonmetabolizable analog 2-aminobicyclo[2,2,1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH) both stimulated insulin secretion to a greater extent than glucose. Glutamine and dimethyl glutamate had no effect. Because the only known action of BCH is stimulation of glutamate dehydrogenase, this is sufficient to develop the full effect of the K ATP channel-independent pathway. Glucose, leucine, and BCH had no effect on intracellular citrate levels. Leucine and BCH both decreased glutamate levels, whereas glucose was without effect. Glucose and leucine decreased palmitate oxidation and increased esterification. Strikingly, BCH had no effect on palmitate oxidation or esterification. Thus BCH activates the K ATP channelindependent pathway of glucose signaling without raising citrate levels, without decreasing fatty acid oxidation, and without mimicking the effects of glucose and leucine on esterification. The results indicate that increased flux through the TCA cycle is sufficient to activate the K ATP channel-independent pathway.