4.7 Article

The mitochondrial rhomboid protease PSARL is a new candidate gene for type 2 diabetes

Journal

DIABETOLOGIA
Volume 48, Issue 3, Pages 459-468

Publisher

SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00125-005-1675-9

Keywords

association; gene-oenvironment interaction; gene expression; Psammomys obesus

Funding

  1. NCRR NIH HHS [RR00058] Funding Source: Medline
  2. NHLBI NIH HHS [HL34989] Funding Source: Medline
  3. NIDDK NIH HHS [DK54026] Funding Source: Medline
  4. NIMH NIH HHS [MH59490] Funding Source: Medline

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Aims/hypothesis: This study aimed to identify genes that are expressed in skeletal muscle, encode proteins with functional significance in mitochondria, and are associated with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We screened for differentially expressed genes in skeletal muscle of Psammomys obesus (Israeli sand rats), and prioritised these on the basis of genomic localisation and bioinformatics analysis for proteins with likely mitochondrial functions. Results: We identified a mitochondrial intramembrane protease, known as presenilins-associated rhomboid-like protein (PSARL) that is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Expression of PSARL was reduced in skeletal muscle of diabetic Psammomys obesus, and restored after exercise training to successfully treat the diabetes. PSARL gene expression in human skeletal muscle was correlated with insulin sensitivity as assessed by glucose disposal during a hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp. In 1,031 human subjects, an amino acid substitution (Leu262Val) in PSARL was associated with increased plasma insulin concentration, a key risk factor for diabetes. Furthermore, this variant interacted strongly with age to affect insulin levels, accounting for 5% of the variation in plasma insulin in elderly subjects. Conclusions/interpretation: Variation in PSARL sequence and/or expression may be an important new risk factor for type 2 diabetes and other components of the metabolic syndrome.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.7
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available