AMINO-ACID OXIDATION IN BRIN-BD11 ISLET CELLS

The oxidation of D-[U-C-14[glucose, L-[1-C-14]leucine, L-[U-C-14]leuci ne, L-[U-C-14]glutamine and L[U-C-14]arginine by BRIN-BD11 cells, whic h represent a novel insulin-secreting cell line obtained by electrofus ion of tumoural and normal islet cells, was compared to the oxidation of the same nutrients in the parent tumoural RINm5F cells. The oxidati on of D-[U-C-14]glucose, L[U-C-14]glutamine and L-[U-C-14]arginine by BRIN-BD11 cells was equal to or higher than that found in RINm5F cells , whilst the opposite situation prevailed in the case of C-14-labelled L-leucine. These findings suggest a more efficient contribution of th e Krebs cycle to overall ATP generation in the hybrid cells than in th e parent tumoural cells.