A redox route from cysteine to glucagon secretion.

Cysteine metabolism sustains α-cell excitability and glucagon secretion through voltage-gated Na+ channels, linking redox control to α-cell nutrient sensing.

• Why it matters: The work addresses how α-cells translate nutrient-related redox changes into electrical activity that supports glucagon release.
• What they did: Behera et al. examined how cysteine metabolism affects α-cell excitability and glucagon secretion, focusing on voltage-gated Na+ channels as the redox-sensitive step.
• The result: The findings indicate that redox regulation of excitability is a component of α-cell nutrient sensing, enabling glucagon secretion to be maintained.

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