Newly-discovered gene could affect abnormal production of sugar in the liver, researchers say

22 May 2009 - Posted by the Editorial Team

A gene that controls the abnormal production of sugar in the liver may have been discovered by researchers in Sydney and Boston, it has been revealed.

Scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Australia, and the Harvard Medical School and Joslin Diabetes Centre, US, studied the effects of transcription factor, or so-called 'master regulator', ARNT.

This controls the expression of other genes involved in processes such as glucose breakdown and the production of insulin.

It was discovered that patients with type-2 diabetes are more likely to have less ARNT in their liver than people without the condition.

A previous study revealed that there is 90 per cent less ARNT in the insulin-producing cells of people with type-2 diabetes.

Commenting on the findings, diabetes specialist and endocrinologist Dr Jenny Gunton, of the Garvan Institute, said: "Working with mice, we found that glucose levels were elevated and there was glucose production from a 'precursor', a source not normally metabolised."

Europe currently has the highest incidence of diabetes cases in the world, with 48 million sufferers - a figure that amounts to 7.8 per cent of the population.

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