Link between regulatory gene, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance found

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

New discoveries on a regulatory gene may lead to treatment for metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors including insulin resistance, high blood pressure and obesity. Researchers at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research have discovered a new role for a regulatory gene which may lead to treatment for metabolic syndrome. The gene, known as TOR, has been studied in fruit flies - a useful 'model organism' for genetic research - and has previously been linked only to control of growth.

In this new research, reduction in TOR function lowered both glucose and lipid levels and was shown to be an important regulator in insulin metabolism. The flies with mutated TOR also had a longer lifespan. The researchers think their findings might explain why a low carb diet can benefit metabolic syndrome, by better regulating insulin through TOR function. The team is continuing this work to see how TOR might explain the impact of calorie restriction and the role it plays in cell aging. They are also screening potential drugs which reduce TOR function as these may well be useful for treating metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.

Source
Cell Metabolism 8th August 2006

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