FAD‐linked glycerophosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in pancreatic islets of mice with hereditary diabetes

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Abstract
The mitochondrial enzyme FAD‐linked glycerophosphate dehydrogenase plays a key role in the glucose‐sensing device of the insulin‐producing pancreatic B‐cell. Its activity was found to be decreased in islet, but not liver, homogenates of BL/Ks‐db/db mice, in which diabetes mellitus represents an inherited disease. The decreased activity of FAD‐linked glycerophosphate dehydrogenase contrasted with a normal activity of glutamate dehydrogenase and 2‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in the islets of db/db mice. It is proposed that a site‐specific defect of FAD‐linked glycerophosphate dehydrogenase in the pancreatic B‐cell might represent a far‐from‐uncommon causal or contributing factor in the pathogenesis of non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus.