Objective
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) oxidation 1 (ERO1) trasfers disulfide bonds to protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and is essential for oxidative protein folding in simple eukaryotes such as yeast and worms. Higher eucaryotes have alternative pathways for disulfide bond formation (Zito et al., 2010). Recently we have discovered that the ER localized peroxiredoxin 4 (PRDX4) is able to couple use of hydroperoxides for oxidative protein folding, independently of ERO1 (Zito et al., 2010b). Hydrogen peroxide production is coupled both to nutrient assimilation and to insulin signaling whereas disulfide bond formation is limiting to the production of important signaling molecules such as insulin itself (in nutrient and insulin-responsive beta cells) and adipokines (in insulin responsive adipose tissue). The aim of this proposal is to evaluate, in cultured cells and intact mice, the impact of PRDX4 and ERO1 activity on the biosynthesis and the functional state of insulin and adypokines and consequently on intermediary metabolism. Recent evidence indicates that disulfide bond formation can be manipulated with chemical probes (Blais et al., 2010). Therefore the proposed study may bring to light novel targets for pharmacological intervention in diabetes and insulin resistance states.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG
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Funding Scheme
MC-IRG - International Re-integration Grants (IRG)Coordinator
CB2 1TN Cambridge
United Kingdom