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Systems Properties Of Insulin Signaling Revealed

Date:
June 25, 2008
Source:
Public Library of Science
Summary:
Swedish researchers have characterized novel systems properties of insulin signaling in human fat cells. Their mathematical modeling provides further insight into energy level maintenance (via the hormone insulin) within our bodies.
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A team of Swedish researchers has characterized novel systems properties of insulin signaling in human fat cells. Their mathematical modeling provides further insight into energy level maintenance (via the hormone insulin) within our bodies.

Hampered insulin function is the cardinal cause of Type 2 diabetes, which currently affects nearly 250 million people worldwide. The disease causes a metabolic malfunction due to incorrect information transfer of insulin concentration in the blood to the internal fluid of cells (the cytosol). This information transfer occurs through a complicated network of protein-protein interactions. The skeleton of the network has been characterized, but systems details, including the relative importance and time-scales of the interactions, were previously unknown.

Due to the complexity of the network, it has proved difficult to achieve such a systems understanding through mere experimental techniques and reasoning. Therefore, the team experimentally collected time-series data from human fat cells in vitro and evaluated various mechanistic explanations by translating the explanations into corresponding mathematical models.

In this study, the modeling indicated that either receptor recycling between the membrane and the cytosol, or feedback from proteins activated further down in the network, are involved in the information transfer during the first minutes after insulin stimulation.

As more detailed data become available, the authors predict that mathematical modeling will become an increasingly important tool for data analysis, and for furthering understanding of insulin signaling and cellular control.


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Journal Reference:

  1. CITATION: Cedersund G, Roll J, Ulfhielm E, Danielsson A, Tidefelt H, et al. Model-Based Hypothesis Testing of Key Mechanisms in Initial Phase of Insulin Signaling. Comput Biol, 4(6): e1000096. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000096

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Public Library of Science. "Systems Properties Of Insulin Signaling Revealed." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 June 2008. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080619203254.htm>.
Public Library of Science. (2008, June 25). Systems Properties Of Insulin Signaling Revealed. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080619203254.htm
Public Library of Science. "Systems Properties Of Insulin Signaling Revealed." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080619203254.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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