Posted on 11/30/2016 8:15:09 PM PST by nickcarraway
A longer-lasting form of a hormone found in platypus venom could pave the way for new treatments for type 2 diabetes in humans, according to researchers at the University of Adelaide.
Key points:
A longer lasting version of GLP-1 has been found in the gut and venom of the platypus
GLP-1 stimulates the release of insulin to lower blood glucose
Researchers hope the venom could be used to treat type 2 diabetes in humans
The team found both the platypus and echidna produce a long-lasting form of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
GLP-1 is normally secreted in the gut of both humans and animals, stimulating the release of insulin to lower blood glucose levels.
But GLP-1 typically degrades within minutes.
Lead researcher Frank Grutzner said his team was surprised to find the hormone was produced not only in the platypus' gut, but also in its venom.
"We've found that GLP-1 is degraded in monotremes [platypus, echidna] by a completely different mechanism," Professor Grutzner said.
"Further analysis of the genetics of monotremes reveals that there seems to be a kind of molecular warfare going on between the function of GLP-1, which is produced in the gut, but also surprisingly in their venom."
The platypus has spurs on its hind limbs for delivering venom to its competitors during mating season.
Associate Professor Briony Forbes said the two different functions of GLP-1 in the platypus — in the gut as a regulator of blood glucose, and in the venom to fend off other males — have seen the hormone evolve.
"The function in venom has most likely triggered the evolution of a stable form of GLP-1 in monotremes," she said.
"Excitingly, stable GLP-1 molecules are highly desirable as potential type 2 diabetes treatments." Professor Grutzner said GLP-1 was also discovered in the venom of echidnas, but unlike the platypus, they do no have a spur to deliver the poisonous fluid.
He said more research was needed to find how the treatment would work in humans.
"I think the next step is really to do some experiments in an established medical animal system like the mouse for example, and study how that variant is working in that mouse model and take it from there."
The important thing here is that the form of the molecule being produced by the platypus can be synthesized... and manufactured... It will just take some bit of lab time ... We won’t have to kill and harvest the venom from the strange little animal ..
Me too...
I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. - Isaiah 45:3
Platypus have venom? Who knew?
(The Aborigines, maybe)
Yup. Delivered by a spur on the hind feet.
They don’t even have the decency to deliver it with a bite. tch tch.
They don’t have teeth. Venom is hard to deliver by gumming.
The venom is if I remember my 4th grade geography of Australia, delivered through the claws
No teeth?
What a mutant!
A spur on the hind legs. A modified claw, I’m sure.
It’s done pretty well for itself.
.
Platypus are venomous???
Who knew!
I did. Didn’t you go to school?
Well, what the heck, everything else in Australia tries to kill you, why not platypus venom for a cure?
.
So, just get yourself a pet male platypus.
Problem solved.
.
Alas!
We had no one to teach us platypusology.
.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.