Articles tagged with Insulin Signaling
A single gene, insulin-like peptide 2 (ilp2), regulates eusociality in ants by influencing reproductive cycles and division of labor. High expression of ilp2 in reproductive ants suggests a key role in the development of complex societies.
Research by Dr. Fernanda De Felice reveals a disease mechanism common to Alzheimer's disease and Type 2 diabetes, leading to new strategies for preserving brain health. The discovery identifies a pathway causing inflammation in the brain, affecting insulin signaling and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
A new study reveals that disrupted insulin signalling in pain sensory neurons is the underlying cause of diabetes-induced pain in fruit flies. Increasing insulin signalling reverses pain hypersensitivity in these model flies, suggesting a potential treatment for diabetic neuropathy patients.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno have successfully developed the world's first transgenic ticks to combat tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease. By disrupting insulin signaling in ticks, the scientists aim to better understand pathogen interactions and develop new vector control targets.
Researchers from Helmholtz Munich successfully visualize insulin receptor activation for the first time, revealing a structural change that propagates across the plasma membrane to initiate signaling cascades. This breakthrough sheds new light on insulin's biological actions and has implications for understanding diabetes and cancer.
Researchers found a 10% decrease in serum zinc levels in women with prediabetes, highlighting the importance of zinc metabolism in diabetes pathogenesis. Zinc plays a crucial role in insulin synthesis and tissue susceptibility to hormones.
A Virginia Tech research team found that oleuropein, an olive-derived compound, helps the body secrete more insulin and detoxify amylin, a signaling molecule linked to type 2 diabetes. This discovery could lead to new strategies to fight obesity and related diseases.
A study published in Science Signaling reveals that enhanced natriuretic peptide signaling in adipose tissue protects against obesity and insulin resistance. Boosting levels of NPs in adipose tissue may be an important avenue for combating metabolic disease.
Researchers have discovered that female fruit flies' pheromone signals can reveal the level of energy invested in egg production versus survival. This finding may have implications for understanding human mating and reproduction patterns.
A study found that male fruit flies are attracted to females with low insulin signaling in their energy storage organ and high insulin signaling in follicle cells supporting egg production. This attraction is linked to increased fertility and offspring production.
Researchers at the University of Iowa discovered a protein that controls glucose uptake in fat cells based on cell swelling, leading to insights into the relationship between obesity and type 2 diabetes. Mice lacking this protein developed insulin resistance and glucose intolerance despite having smaller fat cells.
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered a biological mechanism that prevents insulin-producing cells from dividing successfully. The study found that the proteins centromere protein A and polo-like kinase-1 are essential for beta-cell growth, and their loss leads to cell death.
A new study published in Developmental Cell demonstrates that a nerve growth protein plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels by prompting pancreatic cells to release insulin. The research, led by Johns Hopkins University biologist Rejji Kuruvilla, has potential implications for the treatment of type-2 diabetes.
Researchers at Tohoku University have discovered a potential link between Alzheimer's disease and insulin signaling dysfunction. The study suggests that memantine, an Alzheimer's treatment, can improve cognitive function by inhibiting the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (Kir6.2 channel), leading to better memory retention in patients.
Researchers at UC Riverside have developed a reliable and accurate navigation system that exploits environmental signals like cellular and Wi-Fi to support autonomous vehicle development. The technology can be used as an alternative or complement to GPS-based systems, enabling consistent and tamper-proof navigation.
A study led by Daniel Kelly identified MondoA as a regulator of key pathways controlling glucose uptake and fat accumulation in muscle cells. Deactivation of MondoA resulted in enhanced glucose uptake and insulin signaling in mice, indicating potential therapeutic targets for preventing and treating obesity-related insulin resistance.
Researchers found that increased insulin signaling reduces atherosclerosis development and improves aorta function in atherosclerosis-prone mice. The anti-atherogenic effects were linked to induction of nitric oxide and activation of downstream pathways, including endothelin receptor B (EDNRB).
Researchers have identified a metabolic pathway in the fruitfly model of fragile X syndrome that can be targeted by new and already approved drugs to treat cognitive deficits. Select expression of a human gene in specific cells restored normal day/night activity patterns and rescued memory problems.
Researchers found that IL-1β increases insulin levels in healthy human islets. In contrast, islets from obese individuals with type 2 diabetes were not responsive to IL-1β stimulation. The study suggests that IL-1R signaling plays a crucial role in glucose homeostasis.
Researchers at Lund University discovered a link between nicotine and type 2 diabetes, finding that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors influence insulin release. A genetic alteration affecting these receptors increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
New research shows that factors in the blood from calorie-restricted rats can modify energy-producing mitochondria within insulin-producing cells, protecting them from glucose toxicity. The findings suggest a potential therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes and new interventions against the disease.
Researchers found that a high-fat diet can cause defective brain signaling in mice, leading to overeating and obesity. Understanding this mechanism may help prevent obesity and reduce its incidence worldwide.
A new study from Rice University suggests that therapies targeting the insulin signaling pathway in brain tumors may be ineffective if they target the wrong molecules. Researchers found that glioblastomas, the deadliest form of brain cancer, have a complex relationship with insulin and other growth factors.
A new study suggests that repeated head injuries can disrupt the brain's energy use, leading to inflammation, degeneration of brain cell segments, and problems with learning and memory. The discovery could help explain the development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease seen in professional athletes.
A study at Mount Sinai Hospital reveals that a set of molecules linked to insulin signaling in the brain may indicate an increased risk of developing diabetes. The researchers identified a key mechanism by which these molecules affect BCAA breakdown in the liver.
Wolfgang Peti, a Brown University biochemist, has received a $1.625-million New to Diabetes Research Accelerator Award to tackle type 2 diabetes. He aims to develop medicines that improve on the status quo, potentially making insulin injections unnecessary.
A study at Brown University found a connection between protein quality control in muscle tissue and lifespan in fruit flies. Suppressing the activity of activin, a protein complex involved in muscle performance, increased life span by up to 20%. The researchers also discovered a potential link between this protein interplay and human a...
Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have identified a mechanism that helps fruit flies adapt to diet changes as young animals, but this mechanism gets misregulated with age, leading to metabolic homeostasis disruption. The study's findings could lead to new treatments that preserve healthy metabolism during aging.
Australian scientists mapped insulin action in cells with precise detail, providing a comprehensive blueprint for understanding diabetes. The breakthrough study catalogued 37,248 phosphorylation sites on 5,705 proteins, revealing 15% that changed in response to insulin.
Researchers found that targeting glutamate receptors in the vagus nerve may control pancreatic functions, providing new hope for treating conditions like gastro-esophageal reflux disorder. The study's findings support the idea that separate nerve pathways regulate diverse organs along the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Researchers found that fruit flies can shift their preference towards more nutritional food sources in as little as four hours when hungry. Blocking insulin signaling increased the flies' preference for nutritious sugars, highlighting the importance of metabolic roles in feeding behavior.
Scientists have discovered a developmental mechanism responsible for the excessive growth of threatening horns or come-hither tail feathers in animals. The research reveals how insulin signaling pathways influence trait size, explaining why some males grow massive horns while others have minimal development.
Researchers at CCNY found that a single gene forms a common link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, affecting the insulin pathway. The finding could point to a therapeutic target for both diseases.
Research published in JCI suggests a connection between insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease, highlighting potential new therapeutics for treatment. The studies found that defective insulin signaling is a common feature of Alzheimer's disease and that treatment with a new anti-diabetic drug normalized insulin signaling and improv...
Research suggests a connection between insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease, with defective insulin signaling potentially impacting cognitive function. Studies show that treating Alzheimer's disease with anti-diabetic drugs can normalize insulin signaling and improve cognitive function.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a cell-signaling pathway that plays a key role in increasing insulin secretion during pregnancy, leading to the development of gestational diabetes. The study found that blocking this pathway can lead to impaired glucose regulation and reduced beta cell mass.
Researchers have overturned a 'textbook' view of liver metabolism, revealing a backup pathway that governs glucose production. The discovery suggests new targets for diabetes drugs and may help bypass the block in insulin action that occurs in Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at WashU Medicine discovered a potent regulator of insulin sensitivity, protein TBC1D3, which helps improve blood sugar control. Higher levels of TBC1D3 impede feedback loops that normally deactivates insulin signals, keeping the pathway open longer.
A new study reveals altered insulin signaling in the pancreas of Type 2 diabetics, resulting in a decrease in beta cell production and quality. The distorted signals disrupt the replication process of beta cells, leading to a major defect in insulin secretion.
A new study from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio challenges the idea that lacking a copy of the IGF1 receptor gene would increase life span. Knocking out one copy of the gene failed to lengthen male mice lifespan, with only modest increases in female mice.
A team of scientists at Arizona State University has made new discoveries about the role of insulin pathways and partner proteins in determining a honey bee's caste fate. They found that blocking certain proteins can force larvae to develop into workers, but also allowed them to develop into queens by providing hormone treatments.
Researchers have found that examining the chin and upper/lower abdomen is an accurate and minimally invasive way to screen for excessive hair growth in women, which can be up to 80% effective. This method has significant implications for diagnosing PCOS and related health risks such as insulin resistance, diabetes, and heart disease.
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have identified a new approach to treating diabetes and obesity by targeting the PTP1B enzyme, which is crucial in regulating insulin signaling. By oxidizing a specific cysteine residue, the enzyme's activity is temporarily halted, allowing for improved insulin sensitivity.
A study published in Nature Chemical Biology reveals how pancreatic beta cells interpret incoming signals and find that three proteins relay signals similar to an electrical circuit. The discovery may lead to repairing deficient cells in treating diabetes.
Researchers at the Buck Institute discovered that insulin signaling affects cell survival and metabolism through translation. The study found that lower insulin signaling is associated with increased tolerance to stress, suggesting a new avenue for disease intervention.
Researchers identified a novel protein called SNARK, which plays a key role in regulating glucose transport during muscle contraction and exercise. The study shows that SNARK mediates contraction-stimulated glucose transport, providing an alternative pathway for increasing glucose uptake in individuals with insulin resistance.
Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered that the insulin signaling pathway is crucial for caste development in honeybees. By manipulating this pathway, scientists can determine whether a larva will become a worker or queen bee. This study provides valuable insights into human biology and aging, as well as the importance...
A study by Johns Hopkins University researchers confirms IGF-1's crucial role in coordinating puberty onset in mice. Administration of IGF-1 to normal female mice triggered pubertal development, highlighting its importance in timely triggering of pulsatile GnRH production.
Researchers have invented a 'smart' insulin protein molecule that binds less to cancer receptors and self-assembles under the skin. This new form of insulin reduces the risk of cancer associated with obesity and excess insulin in Type-2 diabetes patients.
Recent research found that Tribble 3 can block the insulin signaling pathway, contributing to insulin resistance and NAFLD. The study provides an experimental basis for future studies on the role of TRB3 in NAFLD.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a key molecular pathway that regulates replication of pancreatic beta cells. Knocking out two cell cycle proteins leads to robust beta cell replication in mouse experiments.
Researchers have found that blocking the 'fasting signal' in fat tissue can prevent insulin resistance in obese mice. The discovery suggests targeting therapies to adipose tissue could have therapeutic benefits for insulin-resistant states.
Researchers found that Nucleostemin 3 (NS3) is required in serotonin-producing neurons to regulate body size. NS3 disruption leads to a 60% reduction in fly body size, highlighting the link between serotonergic and insulin signaling pathways.
A team of Swedish researchers characterized novel systems properties of insulin signaling in human fat cells through mathematical modeling. The study provided further insight into energy level maintenance via the hormone insulin, which is critical for preventing Type 2 diabetes. Insulin function impairment is a cardinal cause of the di...
Neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory demonstrated that insulin receptors in the brain regulate neural circuits, synapses, and dendritic growth. Insulin receptor signaling is critical for proper brain operation and may contribute to cognitive impairments like Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Ohio State University identify two genes that regulate mosquito growth and diapause, a hibernation-like state of arrested development. By disrupting these genes, scientists can mimic hormonal shifts that initiate diapause and disrupt fat retention, pointing to separate functions for each gene.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered a novel link between excessive nutrient levels and insulin resistance. The enzyme OGT plays a crucial role in regulating insulin signaling by slamming the brake on glucose uptake, leading to the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at UCL find mice missing IRS-1 have increased lifespan by 20% and better health as they age, with improved eyesight, alertness, and immune function, while lacking IRS-2 results in shorter lifespan and obesity
A new study finds that reducing insulin signaling in the brain can lead to a longer lifespan, with genetically engineered mice living up to 18% longer. This breakthrough suggests that diet and exercise may be key to preventing age-related diseases.
A new study from the University of Illinois found that cytokine resistance contributes to the pathology of type 2 diabetes by impairing the anti-inflammatory response and disrupting insulin-like signaling pathways. This impairment leads to chronic inflammation, which exacerbates health issues in individuals with obesity or diabetes.