Type 2 diabetes mellitus and worm longevity: a transcriptional link to cure?
In Caenorhabditis elegans, an insulin-like signalling pathway culminates in a transcription factor (TF) that is homologous to a subfamily of TFs responsible for the regulation of a subset of insulin-responsive genes in humans. Under harsh conditions, C. elegans reduces signalling through this pathway and arrests developmentally in a manner that is similar to the metabolic syndrome of humans. We propose that an understanding of this pathway could lead to drugs with optimal potency and selectivity in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Habeos
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Dept of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26110 Patras, Greece.
Papavassiliou
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AG
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / Q000235:genetics; D020218:Response Elements; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007328:Insulin; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP)