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Diabetes missing link discovered
phys.org ^ | December 5, 2016 | Provided by: University of Auckland NZ

Posted on 12/13/2016 2:26:43 PM PST by Red Badger

High-resolution model of six insulin molecules assembled in a hexamer. Credit: Isaac Yonemoto/Wikipedia

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New Zealand researchers have uncovered a new mechanism that controls the release of the hormone insulin in the body, providing hope for those with a genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes.

The findings, published today in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, show for the first time that a protein known as beta catenin is crucial for controlling the release of insulin from the pancreas to maintain stable blood sugar levels.

In type 2 diabetes, either the body doesn't produce enough insulin or the cells in the body don't recognise the insulin that is present, leading to high levels of glucose in the blood.

University of Auckland lead researcher Professor Peter Shepherd and his team, including Dr Brie Sorrenson, carried out the study with the support of a $1.2 million project grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC).

For this part of the project they focused on a variant in a gene called TCF7L2. This variant has been known to science for about 10 years and is the biggest contributing factor for whether people are genetically susceptible to getting type 2 diabetes or not.

"We wanted to understand what happens in the body's cells that are associated with TCF7L2 and how the processes that go on affect the regulation of glucose metabolism in the body," says Professor Shepherd.

"TCF7L2 binds directly to beta catenin. By observing this interaction, we found that beta catenin levels not only change in response to rising and falling nutrient levels, but that they also regulate how much insulin we have in our body and ensure that we have the right amount of insulin at the right time."

"Scientists have built up a large body of knowledge over the past 15 years about how hormones are released from cells in the body, but this is the first time this mechanism has been associated with the release of insulin," says Professor Shepherd.

"One possible reason for this delay is that beta catenin has in the past been closely associated with cancer, not diabetes.

"Underneath the cell membrane there are layers of fibres called actin. These fibres form networks that somehow bind to insulin," he says.

"Our evidence suggests that beta catenin is controlling these networks of actin fibres and rapidly changing their nature by opening up 'gaps' in the fibre network to either block or allow the release of insulin."

Although this paper focuses specifically on type 2 diabetes, the team's preliminary findings as part of the wider HRC-funded project suggest that the same mechanism also helps control the way insulin functions; the metabolism of glucose in fat cells; and the release of hormones in the brain that control appetite and energy metabolism.

"We think we've identified a much broader mechanism that affects multiple cell types, not just beta cells in our pancreas," says Professor Shepherd.

HRC Chief Executive Professor Kath McPherson says we can't develop new treatments for chronic diseases like diabetes, unless we understand the biology behind them and this is one of the reasons why fundamental scientific research like this is so important.

"Peter and his team have received significant HRC funding over the years to pursue this avenue of research," she says.

"Major outcomes like this highlight the benefits of long-term HRC funding for emerging science in New Zealand. It's hard work finding new mechanisms that contribute to disease – researchers must go down a lot of blind alleys to find them.

"There's a very high payoff in the end in terms of enhancing our understanding of disease and developing potential new treatments," says Professor McPherson.

Between 50 and 60 per cent of people who are susceptible to type 2 diabetes in our current environment have a genetic variant that puts them at higher risk of getting the disease.

"This discovery potentially opens up a whole new drug discovery field to understand how we could manipulate beta catenin levels to control the release of insulin," says Professor Shepherd.

Explore further: New mechanism regulating insulin secretion may explain genetic susceptibility to diabetes

More information: Brie Sorrenson et al. A Critical Role for β-catenin in Modulating Levels of Insulin Secretion from β-cells by Regulating Actin Cytoskeleton and Insulin Vesicle Localization, Journal of Biological Chemistry (2016). DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M116.758516

Journal reference: Journal of Biological Chemistry


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Health/Medicine; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: diabetes; repository
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To: Jeff Chandler
"Major outcomes like this highlight the benefits of long-term HRC funding for emerging science in New Zealand."

Hillary Rodham Clinton funding in New Zealand will not cure diabetes.

21 posted on 12/13/2016 4:11:55 PM PST by BipolarBob
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To: bigredkitty1

We had a cat that became diabetic as a kitten.

He went into remission for three years then back to diabetes.

I gave him 10,000+ insulin injections.

Still miss the little bugger.

Peace to your Sis and cat...


22 posted on 12/13/2016 6:02:00 PM PST by BBB333 (The power of TRUMP compels you!)
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To: Red Badger

So if a person is 40 years old today and finds out that he has Type 2 . . . what are the chances that he will be able to take the medicine for the cure by the time he is in his 60’s?


23 posted on 12/13/2016 7:31:39 PM PST by Pilgrim's Progress (http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/BYTOPICS/tabid/335/Default.aspx D)
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To: BBB333

Thank you. This is my second kitty with diabetes. See my tagline for my first. Diabetes never laid a glove on him. The cancer we never saw coming, however, did.


24 posted on 12/13/2016 8:17:08 PM PST by bigredkitty1 (March 5, 2010. Rest in peace, sweet boy. I will miss you, Big Red.)
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To: BBB333
Cats can and do cure themselves of diabetes.

I assume you're referring to type 2.

Type 1 is a very different, and deadlier, thing and there is no cure or known cause. I have two children with type 1.

I wish people would stop referring to diabetes as if it's one thing. It's not. Type 2 strikes middle aged and older folks and is more often than not obesity triggered. Type 1 strikes children and young adults and has nothing to do with diet or weight.

25 posted on 12/13/2016 8:36:55 PM PST by Lizavetta
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To: Lizavetta

My kitten was not obese, nor old.

I feel for you and your family, just lower the tone a bit, please.

I mentioned the feline connection to diabetes as something scientists should study.

Peace.


26 posted on 12/14/2016 4:25:42 AM PST by BBB333 (The power of TRUMP compels you!)
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To: Lizavetta

Btt


27 posted on 12/14/2016 4:26:58 AM PST by KSCITYBOY (The media is corrupt)
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To: LouieFisk

Ya never see a rabbit wearing glasses.

I grew up watching one.....................

28 posted on 12/14/2016 6:19:41 AM PST by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

Used to watch the Captain, too - Mr. Green Jeans, Tom Terrific, etc. What was the rabbit’s name?


29 posted on 12/14/2016 6:55:19 AM PST by LouieFisk
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To: LouieFisk

Bunny Rabbit..............


30 posted on 12/14/2016 6:56:18 AM PST by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

By golly, I do believe you’re correct - I can almost hear the good Cap’n calling him that. Usually only got to watch the show if I was sick or during summer vacation, had to be off to school about the time he came on.


31 posted on 12/14/2016 7:21:03 AM PST by LouieFisk
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To: Conservative4Life

Ping


32 posted on 12/16/2016 8:07:11 PM PST by Trillian
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To: Red Badger

From your link:

“Beta-catenin is a proto-oncogene. Mutations of this gene are commonly found in a variety of cancers: in primary hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, ovarial carcinoma, breast cancer, lung cancer and glioblastoma. Due to its involvement in cancer development, inhibition of beta-catenin continues to receive significant attention.”

I’m not sure taking this is worth that!


33 posted on 12/16/2016 8:17:30 PM PST by Alas Babylon!
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To: Lizavetta

Yup. I’m a type 1. But now I’m ALSO a type 2. My Endocrinologist jokes that I’m a type 3. (1 + 2=3)


34 posted on 12/16/2016 8:19:14 PM PST by Alas Babylon!
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To: kalee

For later


35 posted on 12/16/2016 8:34:54 PM PST by kalee
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