Bernal-Mizrachi Lab

Research focus

NIH R01 · 2024

Amino acid sensing mechanisms in beta and alpha cells

Project Summary/Abstract The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been primarily linked to defects in beta-cells, but evidence also points to a major contribution of glucagon and alpha-cell function in this disease. Cumulative data in mouse models and humans show that several amino acids (AAs), including branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and aromatic amino acids, have been reported to be associated with the risk of T2D. The increase in these AAs is associated with reduced insulin secretion, insulin resistance, and glycemia in human cohorts. Together, this evidence suggests that elevation in BCAAs could provide a mechanistic link between obesity/insulin resistance and beta- and alpha-…

From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.