Anomeric specificity for the rapid transient efflux of phosphate ions from pancreatic islets during secretory stimulation with glucose

When pancreatic islets prelabeled with ³²P]-orthophosphate are stimulated with glucose solutions differing only in their anomeric composition, the α anomer induces a greater efflux of radiophosphate than the β anomer. This anomeric specificity suggests that the altered anionic flux may be initiated by the glucose molecule itself or by disposition of glucose which does not entail initial phosphorylation.