Question

The chemical nature of hormones secreted by alpha and delta cells of pancreas is
A. Glycolipid
B. Glycoprotein
C. Steroid
D. Polypeptide

Answer 1

Hint: Alpha cells produce the hormone glucagon and the beta cells produce insulin, being the most abundant cells in our body. Alpha cells make up about 20 percent of human islets and beta cells make up nearly 75 percent of the islet.

Complete step by step answer:
Let’s discuss the options and find out the correct answer.
- Glycolipids are lipids consisting of a carbohydrate attached by a covalent bond. Their primary function is to regulate the stability of the cell membrane and to ease cellular recognition which is tough to the immune response.
- Glycoproteins are proteins consisting of oligosaccharide chains with a covalent bond attached to the amino acid side chains. The carbohydrate is connected to the protein in a cotranslational modification. This whole process is called glycosylation. Certain viruses have glycoprotein in them which can enter the bodily cells and act as preventative targets.
- Steroids are the hormones prepared in the human body but they are man-made versions of chemicals. When taken in higher doses, they reduce the ability of the immune system which is our body’s defence against certain diseases and illness.
- Polypeptides are the hormones produced by the alpha and beta cells of the pancreas. Alpha cells produce glucagon which is made of 29 amino acids. On the other hand, delta cells produce somatostatin which is made of 28 amino acids.
Hence, option, ‘D: Polypeptide’ is the correct answer.

Note: The beta cells make insulin and amylin making upto 65-80 percent of the total islet cell. Somatostatin is also produced by the hypothalamus.