The Scientist, September 6, 2010.
By controlling how many ribosomes coat a certain mRNA in C. elegans, intracellular insulin signaling can regulate how many copies of a protein are made, and how quickly, giving cells more flexibility when responding to changes in the environment.
The results, published, in the September 8th issue of Cell Metabolism, hold implications for a range of fields, including aging and diabetes, in which insulin signaling is known to play a role. “We have found a new way in which insulin controls the proteins that are made, and some of those proteins are really important for the survival of the worms,” said lead author Gordon Lithgow, of the Buck Institute for Age Research. “That throws up questions as to whether insulin is doing the same in humans and that presents a whole new set of targets for potential therapies or interventions in both aging and diabetes.” Read More >