Synthesis of proinsulin and large glucagon immunoreactivity in isolated Langerhans islets from EMC-virus infected mice.

The protein synthesis in normal and in EMC-virus infected mouse islets of Langerhans was investigated. Mouse large glucagon immunoreactivity was determined by an immunoassay after chromatographic separation. It was characterized as a peptide of 16 000 MW with in intracellular half-life of 35-45 min. The proportional reduction of void volume proteins, large glucagon immunoreactivity and proinsulin synthesis after infection shows, that both alpha- and beta-cells are damaged by the virus. A reduction in the synthesis of the three protein fractions was already found 6 hrs after inoculation of the virus and remained nearly constant for 48 hrs. An almost complete breakdown of protein synthesis occurred 60 to 70 hrs after infection and was paralleled by the first light microscopic changes in the islets. The stimulation of proinsulin synthesis by glucose was preserved for 48 hrs after EMC-virus infection.