Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is a key enzyme in fatty acid mobilization in many cell types. Two isoforms of HSL are known to date, namely HSL adi (84 kDa in rat) and HSL tes (130 kDa in rat). These are encoded by the same gene, with exons 1-9 encoding the parts that are common to both and an additional 5 -exon encoding the additional amino acids in HSL tes . HSL of various tissues, among these the islet of Langerhans, is larger than HSL adi , but not as large as HSL tes , indicating that there may be other 5 -coding exons. Here we describe the molecular basis for a novel 89-kDa HSL isoform that is expressed in -cells, adipocytes, adrenal glands, and ovaries in the rat and that is encoded by exons 1-9 and exon A, which is spliced to exon 1 and thereby introducing an upstream start codon. The additional 5 -base pairs encode a 43-amino acid peptide, which is highly positively charged. Conglomerates of HSL molecules are in close association with the secretory granules of the -cell, as determined by immunoelectron microscopy with antibodies targeting two separate regions of HSL. We have also determined that the human genomic sequence upstream of exon A has promoter activity in INS-1 cells as well as glucose sensing capability, mediating an increase in expression at high glucose concentration. The minimal promoter is present within 170 bp from the transcriptional start site and maximal glucose responsiveness is conferred by sequence within 850 bp from the transcriptional start site.Because of the established association between type 2 diabetes and obesity, lipids have received much attention in research on the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. Lipids are believed to cause insulin resistance in tissues and to alter -cell function. The effect of lipids on -cells has been studied extensively, but the picture that emerges is complex. Different effects are seen depending on parameters such as duration of exposure, concentration, and fatty acid chain length and saturation. Briefly, the presence of free fatty acids is essential for normal glucosestimulated insulin secretion (1, 2) and also has an amplifying action on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. On the other hand, a prolonged exposure (24 -48 h) to high concentrations (ϳ1 mM) of free fatty acids is detrimental to -cell function and survival (3, 4).In view of this, knowledge of lipid mobilization, lipid storage, and the regulation of these in the -cell are of great interest. Recently, we showed that hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) 1 is expressed and active in islets of Langerhans and clonal -cells (5). HSL is a key enzyme in fatty acid mobilization in the adipocytes and presumably also in several non-adipocyte cell types (see Ref. 6 for review). It is unique among known lipases in that its activity is acutely controlled by hormones. Catabolic hormones, such as glucagon and catecholamines, activate the enzyme and anabolic hormones (e.g. insulin) decrease its activity. The activity of HSL is principally determined by the intracellular level of cAMP, which con...