Role of protein kinase C in the regulation of glucagon gene expression by arginine.

The cellular mechanism of glucagon gene expression in intact rat islets and their synthesis and release of glucagon were investigated. Arginine significantly increased the amounts of preproglucagon mRNA and glucagon in the islets and glucagon release. H-7, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), significantly inhibited these effects of arginine. However, H-8, a potent inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, did not affect the arginine-induced biosynthesis of glucagon or glucagon release. These results suggest that the regulation of glucagon gene expression by arginine is mediated by PKC, not by cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases.