Insulin signaling suppressed by decoys

[Northerner]

In a discovery that may further the understanding of diabetes and human longevity, scientists at Scripps Research have found a new biological mechanism of insulin signaling. Their study, involving the roundworm C. elegans, reveals that a "decoy" receptor is at work in binding to insulin molecules and keeping them from sending signals for increased insulin production.

The study appears in the journal eLife. It describes a new player in the insulin signaling system, one that may offer insights into insulin resistance, a feature of type 2 diabetes. The scientists are now assessing whether a similar decoy exists in humans. If so, it could present a new target for diabetes treatment and prevention research.

Insulin signaling suppressed by decoys

The discovery of an insulin 'decoy' molecule shakes up understanding of insulin signaling, with implications for diabetes, longevity and aging research.

www.sciencedaily.com

 

[mikeyB]

Roundworms? Have they run out of mice? And I would suggest that my genome is radically different to that of a roundworm. Too far back in the evolutionary tree, methinks.

 

[Ljc]

I’m sorry but I just can’t get myself to feel sorry for the roundworms involved in research, I bet the mice would have highly relived if they knew though.

I too think roundworms and humans are far too different