The Biological Clock and Diabetes

A new study yielded that a key protein regulates biological clocks in mammals also plays a key role in glucose production in the liver. The changes on the levels of this protein would help improve diabetics.

The discovery is detailed in the journal Nature Medicine for this week. The article provides the background as to the new biochemical approach on the developments on the management of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The study also provides proof that changes in the sleep-wake cycle, either by occupation or lifestyle, has consequences including those which lead to diabetes.

The study used biological mice and Steve Kay, Dean of the Biological Sciences Division of University of California in San Diego said “We know that mice that don’t have good biological clocks tend to develop diabetes and obesity.” The lead author of the study added, “And we know that mice that have developed diabetes and obesity tend not to have very good biological clocks. This reciprocal relationship between circadian rhythm and the maintenance of a constant supply of glucose in the body had been known for some time. But what we found that’s so significant is that a particular biological clock protein, cryptochrome, is actually regulating how the hormone that regulates glucose production in the liver works in a very specific way.”

The main body of knowledge persisting is that the metabolism is governed by hormones released by the pancreas. The study shows that the biological clock affects the hormones that regulate the metabolism. This gives solid proof why there are a great number of shift workers suffering from obesity and insulin resistance because their biological clocks are often out of sync with the real world.

The main culprit is the protein Cryptochrome that regulates glucose production in the liver. The discovery was a surprise for both the team from UCSD and the Salk Institute. The first generalization on the protein was its role in the nucleus of cells that switch on and off. Now with this study, cryptochrome has a role outside the nucleus and affects the general well being of an individual. This is done through the process of “gluconeogenesis” where the body is provided a supply of glucose for the overall functioning of the body. The role of the protein is in accordance with the biological clock and improper patterns affects the functioning of this system as a whole.

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Tagged as: biological clock, diabetes, pancreas, Type 2