The Orange Line shows the metabolic endogenous triggering pathway to secrete and release insulin.
This is Glucose.
After a meal, pancreatic beta cells detect a rise in blood glucose levels and begin the process of glucose uptake to secrete insulin.
This is the GLUT Transporter.
It transports glucose into the cell.
Glucose enters the beta cells via the GLUT transporter through facilitated diffusion. This transport is concentration dependent, meaning it increases as glucose levels rise.
This is pyruvate.
Once glucose is in the cytoplasm of the beta cell, it undergoes glycolysis. This breaks down 1 molecule of glucose into 2 molecules of pyruvate, generating a small amount of ATP and NADH in the process.
This is the Mitochondria.
The mitochondria is responsible for producing most of the cell’s energy through a process called cellular respiration.
Pyruvate molecules enter the mitochondria, where they undergo cellular respiration via the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to produce ATP.
This is ATP.
High levels of ATP are produced via oxidative phosphorylation. This ATP contributes to 3 actions on the Blue Line: membrane depolarization, facilitating insulin synthesis, and insulin maturation.