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Scientists have identified a previously unknown microprotein hidden within the human mitochondrial genome that could help explain why some people are more susceptible to Type 2 diabetes and may eventually lead to a new precision medicine approach to treatment.<\/p>\n
The discovery<\/a>, made by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC)<\/a>, looks at the genetic factors behind diabetes and obesity, two of the world\u2019s fastest-growing health challenges.<\/p>\n New genetic link discovered<\/p>\n While most research into the genetics of disease has focused on DNA found in the cell nucleus, the much smaller mitochondrial genome appeared to be an important source of biologically active microproteins.<\/p>\n In a genomewide interaction study involving health and genetic data from more than 15,000 adults, researchers identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) linked to Type 2 diabetes. SNPs are common genetic variations involving a change in a single DNA building block and can influence an individual\u2019s response to medicines, environmental factors and disease.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n In a genomewide interaction study involving health and genetic data from more than 15,000 adults, researchers identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) linked to Type 2 diabetes<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The genetic variant was found within the gene for a newly discovered mitochondrial-derived microprotein, named MENTSH (MDP Encoded in the ND-Two Subunit of Humans).<\/p>\n Researchers found the variant is most common among populations indigenous to the Americas and is present in around 20 percent of Mexican and Mexican American individuals. The SNP prevents the production of MENTSH by disabling the gene\u2019s start codon, suggesting it could contribute to the increased burden of metabolic disease seen within these populations.<\/p>\n Encouraging laboratory results<\/p>\n The research team confirmed that MENTSH is a genuine, biologically active microprotein through laboratory experiments and direct detection using mass spectrometry.<\/p>\n Scientists then tested both MENTSH and more potent engineered versions of the molecule in mouse models of obesity and diabetes. In these preclinical studies, MENTSH improved insulin signalling, while the engineered analogues significantly reduced weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The research team confirmed that MENTSH is a genuine, biologically active microprotein through laboratory experiments and direct detection using mass spectrometry<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The researchers also discovered that MENTSH acts differently depending on the tissue. It activates AKT enzyme signalling in muscle while reducing AKT signalling in fat tissue which is usually associated with improved metabolic health.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s exciting is that this molecule appears to act differently in muscle versus fat, which is exactly the kind of targeted effect you\u2019d want in a metabolic therapy,\u201d said USC Leonard Davis Research Associate Professor of Gerontology Kelvin Yen, the study\u2019s first author.<\/p>\n Potential for precision medicine<\/p>\n The findings suggest MENTSH-based therapies could one day offer a personalised approach to treating Type 2 diabetes, particularly for people who carry the newly identified genetic variant. Researchers say the SNP can be identified through genetic screening and could potentially be used to assess diabetes risk.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The findings suggest MENTSH-based therapies could one day offer a personalised approach to treating Type 2 diabetes<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n However, the work is still at the preclinical stage and further research will be needed to establish the safety and effectiveness of MENTSH-based treatments before they can be tested in humans.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the first time, we\u2019ve connected a mitochondrial microprotein to diabetes risk in a specific population, which opens the door to treatments tailored to the people who need them most,\u201d said co-author Jerome Rotter, a professor at the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Scientists have identified a previously unknown microprotein hidden within the human mitochondrial genome that could help explain why…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":581745,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[103,61,60],"class_list":["post-581744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-health","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=581744"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581744\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/581745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=581744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=581744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=581744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}