Liver target for diabetes
The liver – which both produces and takes up glucose – plays a significant role in controlling blood glucose and, consequently, the development of diabetes. Glucokinase (GK), a liver enzyme that regulates blood glucose levels, is considered an important target for drugs to treat type 2 diabetes. Previously, Masakazu Shiota DVM, Ph.D., and colleagues showed that early diabetic changes in male Zucker diabetic fatty rats – a model of obesity-related type 2 diabetes – were associated with impaired regulation of GK.
In the January issue of Diabetes, the researchers show that GK expression in the liver progressively decreases as diabetes progresses in these rats – GK activity was only 30 percent of normal at 20 weeks of age. Using a gene therapy approach, they show that normalizing liver GK restores plasma glucose to near normal levels. The results suggest that maintaining GK activity in the liver – either by gene therapy or pharmaceutical intervention – could represent a therapeutic approach to regulating glucose levels in type 2 diabetes.
— Melissa Marino
Heartbeat clues from worms
The potassium channel HERG plays a key role in maintaining the rhythmic heartbeat. Mutations in the HERG gene, or drugs that block the channel, can cause long QT syndrome (LQTS) and life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
iStockphoto.com
Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
— Leigh MacMillan
Kidney fix-it factor
Acute kidney injury – from exposure to chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs, for example – is common, but the mechanisms of injury and repair are poorly understood.
iStockphoto.com
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
— Leigh MacMillan
p120’s ROCKing role in tumor cells
iStockphoto.com
In the Feb. 9 Journal of Cell Biology, they report that p120 loss blocks Rac1- and Src-induced AIG by suppressing a key signaling pathway (RhoA-ROCK pathway). H-ras induced AIG was not affected by p120 loss. However, all three oncogenes depended on ROCK suppression, suggesting that ROCK may act as a gatekeeper for activities essential for AIG, and therefore, tumor development. The results demonstrate for the first time a clear requirement for p120 in oncogene-mediated tumorigenesis.
— Melissa Marino
We welcome suggestions for research to highlight in Aliquots. The items should be primary research articles (no reviews, editorials or commentaries) published within the last two months in a peer-reviewed journal. Please send the article citation (PDF if available) and any other feedback about the column to: aliquots@vanderbilt.edu.
Past Aliquots
June 22, 2012
June 8, 2012
May 11, 2012
April 27, 2012
April 13, 2012
March 30, 2012
March 16, 2012