Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026
09:48
Differentiated Mouse Adipocytes in Primary Culture: A Model of Insulin Resistance
Published on: February 17, 2023
3.5K
How does obesity lead to insulin resistance?
1Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States.
Elife
|December 15, 2017
Summary
Experiments reveal that the enzyme DNA methyltransferase 3a plays a role in insulin resistance through epigenetic modifications. This finding offers new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Epigenetics
- Metabolic research
Background:
- Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Epigenetic mechanisms, which alter gene expression without changing DNA sequence, are increasingly recognized as contributors to metabolic disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3A) in the development of insulin resistance.
- To explore the potential epigenetic mechanisms linking DNMT3A to insulin resistance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mouse models to study the function of DNMT3A in metabolic tissues.
- Employed molecular biology techniques to assess gene expression and epigenetic modifications related to insulin signaling.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that DNMT3A is implicated in the development of insulin resistance in mice.
- Identified specific epigenetic alterations mediated by DNMT3A that impact insulin sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- DNMT3A is a key epigenetic regulator involved in insulin resistance.
- Targeting DNMT3A or its associated epigenetic pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies for metabolic diseases.
More Related Videos
08:13Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test OGTT and Insulin Tolerance Test ITT
Published on: January 7, 2018
71.9K
08:32Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain
Published on: January 4, 2018
10.9K
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
1.4K
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
1.4K
01:28Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways
3.5K
Insulin action is mediated through a receptor tyrosine kinase, akin to the IGF-1 receptor. The number of receptors per cell varies significantly, from 40 on erythrocytes to 300,000 on adipocytes and hepatocytes. The insulin receptor consists of linked α/β subunit dimers, forming a heterotetramer glycoprotein with two extracellular α subunits and two β subunits spanning the membrane. The α subunits inhibit the inherent tyrosine kinase activity of the β subunits, but...
3.5K
01:36Carbohydrate Metabolism
14.4K
Carbohydrates are polymers composed of molecules containing atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. One gram of carbohydrate can provide four kilo-calories of energy, which makes it the most efficient instant energy source.
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...
14.4K
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
3.8K
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
3.8K
01:20Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion
197
Drug metabolism, a critical process in the liver, involves two primary phases: Phase I reactions and Phase II conjugation. Obesity introduces significant alterations in this metabolic process, primarily due to fatty infiltration of the liver, leading to conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition can modify the activities of both Phase I and II enzymes, impacting how drugs are metabolized in obese patients.Phase I metabolism sees variable effects across...
197
01:05Insulin Secretory Vesicles
7.0K
Insulin secretory vesicles release insulin to stimulate blood glucose uptake and regulate carbohydrate metabolism. When the blood glucose levels increase, glucose enters the pancreatic β-islet cells through glucose transporters. Once inside, glucose is metabolized through glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain, producing ATP. This increase in ATP concentration closes ATP-sensitive potassium channels, leading to depolarization of the membrane and the opening of...
7.0K