IRIG: PGC-1a in Nature and Metformin in JCI
05/09/2007 21:30
PGC-1a (PPARg
coactivator 1a) is a transcription coactivator for
many transcription factors that are involved in the
regulation of glucose and fat metabolism. PGC-1a has
been a model to demonstrate the role of
nuclear cofactor in the control of metabolism.
PGC-1a stimulates gluconeogenesis
through induction of key enzymes PEPCK and
G6Pase, promotes fatty acid oxidation and heat
production through mitochondrial biosynthysis and
UCP1 expression. In a recent issue of "Nature",
PGC-1a is reported to link biological clock to
energy metabolism in mice (See attached PDF
file).
The study further supports the role of PGC-1a in
the regulation of energy (glucose and fat)
metabolism.
Metformin is a popular medicine in the control of blood glucose in patients with metabolic syndrom. The action mechanism of metformin is related to stimulation of glycolysis for glucose consumption. This activity is dependent on uptake of metformin by cells. In a recent issue of JCI, it is reported that cellular uptake of metformin is determined by a transmembrane protein by the name of organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1). In the absence of OCT1, metformin failed to exhibit its therapeutic activity in the OCT1 knockout mice. Given the high degree polymorphism of OCT1 gene in human, this study provides molecular basis for personalized medicine. Attached is the PDF file of the paper and the editorial.
By Jianping at PBRC
—----------------------------------
Jianping Ye, MD
Professor of Molecular Biology
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Louisiana State University System
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 763-3163
Fax: (225) 763-2525
E-mail: yej@pbrc.edu
Metformin is a popular medicine in the control of blood glucose in patients with metabolic syndrom. The action mechanism of metformin is related to stimulation of glycolysis for glucose consumption. This activity is dependent on uptake of metformin by cells. In a recent issue of JCI, it is reported that cellular uptake of metformin is determined by a transmembrane protein by the name of organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1). In the absence of OCT1, metformin failed to exhibit its therapeutic activity in the OCT1 knockout mice. Given the high degree polymorphism of OCT1 gene in human, this study provides molecular basis for personalized medicine. Attached is the PDF file of the paper and the editorial.
By Jianping at PBRC
—----------------------------------
Jianping Ye, MD
Professor of Molecular Biology
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Louisiana State University System
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 763-3163
Fax: (225) 763-2525
E-mail: yej@pbrc.edu
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