Researchers trigger insulin production in diabetic mice

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2008/01/08/protein_power_researchers_trigger_insulin_production_in_diabetic_mice.html

by ingenium • 19 years ago

2 1 19 years ago

biologynews.net

ingenium• 19 years ago

This basically is a cure for diabetes. Basically, part of the protein acts as a recognition site for transporters into the cell and into the nucleus. I assume the protein itself is a transcription factor which will activate genes required for cell differentiation. This will trigger stem cells or partially differentiated cells into becoming insulin producing cells.

The effects of this treatment should be permanent. That is unless they get destroyed by the same mechanism that destroyed the original insulin producing cells. Even so, as the article states, an infrequent injection will cause more to be produced.

It's a very interesting approach. I hope more research goes into designing custom versions of these, as I imagine this can be used in other applications in place of gene therapy. Current transcription factors can probably be used with the addition of the signal peptide appended to the end to allow for transport.

Researchers trigger insulin production in diabetic mice

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