The major physiological inhibitors of insulin secretion, norepinephrine, somatostatin, galanin, and prostaglandin E 2, act via specific receptors that activate pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G proteins. Four inhibitory mechanisms are known: 1) activation of ATP-sensitive K channels and repolarization of the -cell; 2) inhibition of L-type Ca 2ϩ channels; 3) decreased activity of adenylyl cyclase; and 4) inhibition of exocytosis at a "distal" site in stimulus-secretion coupling. We have examined the underlying mechanisms of inhibition at this distal site. In rat pancreatic islets, 2-bromopalmitate, cerulenin, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, all of which suppress protein acyltransferase activity, blocked the distal inhibitory effects of norepinephrine in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, control compounds such as palmitate, 16-hydroxypalmitate, and etomoxir, which do not block protein acylation, had no effect. Furthermore, 2-bromopalmitate also blocked the distal inhibitory actions of somatostatin, galanin, and prostaglandin E 2. Importantly, neither 2-bromopalmitate nor cerulenin affected the action of norepinephrine to decrease cAMP production. We also examined the effects of norepinephrine, 2-bromopalmitate, and cerulenin on palmitate metabolism. Palmitate oxidation and its incorporation into lipids seemed not to contribute to the effects of 2-bromopalmitate and cerulenin on norepinephrine action. These data suggest that protein acylation mediates the distal inhibitory effect on insulin secretion. We propose that the inhibitors of insulin secretion, acting via PTX-sensitive G proteins, activate a specific protein acyltransferase, causing the acylation of a protein or proteins critical to exocytosis. This particular acylation and subsequent disruption of the essential and precise interactions involved in core complex formation would block exocytosis. rat pancreatic islets; -cell; signaling; pertussis toxin; G proteins INSULIN SECRETION is a complex process regulated by nutrients, such as glucose and amino acids, and hormonal and neural factors that provide stimulatory and inhibitory influences on the pancreatic -cells. The major physiological inhibitors, such as norepinephrine (NE), somatostatin, prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ), and galanin, can inhibit insulin secretion that is stimulated by all of the nutrient and modulatory pathways. They interact with specific G protein-linked receptors at the plasma membrane, which activate pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G i and G o proteins that mediate the inhibition of insulin secretion (17,27,30).The inhibitory pathways act in contradictory fashion on many of the same sites as the stimulatory pathways (30). For example, 1) inhibitors activate the ATP-sensitive K (K ATP ) channel, repolarize or hyperpolarize the cell membrane, and thus inhibit the action of glucose that depolarizes the membrane via closure of this channel; 2) inhibitors decrease the activity of the Ltype Ca 2ϩ channel by two means, indirectly by the activation of the K ATP channel and hyperp...