Diabetes

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine protein kinase and has been known to play its role in cell growth and proliferation. mTOR is activated by phosphorylationin response to growth factors, mitogens and hormones. Rapamycin is a macrolide antibiotic from Streptomyces hygroscopicus that specifically inhibit the activity of mTOR.

As the hormone ghrelin is linked to appetite and weight gain, as well as impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion, there is considerable interest in this peptide as a potential drug target. Although the overall lack of success in this field has been disappointing, research inhibiting the ghrelin-modifying enzyme GOAT (MBOAT4) has produced promising results.

Acromegaly is a rare life-shortening disease caused by elevated levels of growth hormone (GH) secreted by a tumor on the pituitary gland. Treatments include somatostatin analogs, which activate somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), reducing GH secretion and tumor size.

Inositol Requiring Enzyme 1 alpha (IRE1 alpha) is a transmembrane-RNase with an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) luminal sensor domain and cytosolic kinase and ribonuclease domains. IRE1 also plays a central role in the ER stress response (1).

Adipocyte differentiation-related protein (ADFP) is found on the surface of lipid droplets in most mammalian cell types. In mammals, lipid droplets are most abundant in adipose tissue, where stored triacylglycerol (TAG) provides the primary energy reserve for the organism. Lipid droplets in steroidogenic cells contain cholesteryl esters used in the synthesis of steroid hormones. Most other mammalian cells contain smaller lipid droplets, whose function remains unclear.

Adiponectin is most well-known for its role in glucose metabolism and fatty acid breakdown. Adiponectin is secreted solely by adipose tissue, and a person with a higher percentage of body fat will express lower levels of Adiponectin. When higher levels of Adiponectin are present, a mouse will show a lack of adipocyte differentiation and a measurable increase in energy expenditure.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a downstream effector of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt (protein kinase B) signaling pathway that mediates cell survival and proliferation. It is increasingly apparent that mTOR signaling impacts most major cellular functions.

Ghrelin is the only potent orexigenic peptide in circulation. It stimulates food intake and leads to metabolism regulation, positive energy balance, adipogenesis, and body weight gain. However, in studies using ghrelin antibodies, the physiological significance of ghrelin in the regulation of energy homeostasis is controversial, since loss of ghrelin function in rodents does not necessarily lead to anorexia and weight loss (1).

Triacylglycerols (triglycerides) (TGs) are the major storage molecules of metabolic energy and FAs in most living organisms. Excessive accumulation of TGs, however, is associated with human diseases, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and steatohepatitis. The final and the only committed step in the biosynthesis of TGs is catalyzed by acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) enzymes.

We at Novus Biologicals have an extensive antibody catalog covering lipid and metabolism research, including Adiponectin and leptin antibody products.