Muscarinic receptor signalling in the control of insulin secretion

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The project is aimed at a better understanding of the way in which nerves control the release of insulin from the pancreatic beta cells of the islets of Langerhans. Nerves release chemicals called neurotransmitters, one of which, acetylcholine, stimulates insulin release in conjunction with a rise in blood glucose immediately after a meal. Acetylcholine binds to receptors on the surface of the beta cells, and triggers signalling pathways inside the cell. We have discovered novel features of those signalling pathways and plan to explore them further. These include a novel route of generation of the intracellular sigalling compound, diacylglycerol, insights into the way that the intracellular messenger Ca2+ enters the cell, and a better understanding of the way in which enzymes known as protein kinases act.