Molecular Biology of Salivary Insulin and Glucagon

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Dr. Smith plans to study the homology between the insulin and glucagon produced by the pancreas and the insulin and glucagon produced by salivary glands using the rat as an animal model. These hormones are important in the regulation of metabolism and food stuff utilization. A deficiency of pancreactic insulin production results in diabetes. Smith has evidence that the peptides produced by the two glands are identical in terms of peptides structure and the genes that regulate production. However, the pancreatic peptides are secreted into the blood and act as hormones, whereas the salivary gland peptides are secreted into the gastrointestinal tract and have no known function. Smith hopes to be able to determine mechanisms regulating production, processing and secretion of the salivary gland peptides as compared to the pancreatic peptides in rats of varying ages or stages of development and under various hormonal conditions including the diabetic state. Apparently, the salivary gland peptides are produced in the diabetic state indicating some differences in the regulation of gene expression between the two glands that might lead to a better understanding of the hormonal and genetic regulation of insulin and glucagon production and to possible mechanisms for gene or cell transfer to relieve the diabetic state.