Deakin University
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

New approaches to gene discovery with animal models of obesity and diabetes

journal contribution
posted on 2002-01-01, 00:00 authored by Gregory Collier, Ken WalderKen Walder, A De Silva, Janette Tenne-Brown, Andrea Sanigorski, D Segal, Lakshmi Kantham, G Augert
DNA-based approaches to the discovery of genes contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes have not been very successful despite substantial investments of time and money. The multiple gene-gene and gene-environment interactions that influence the development of type 2 diabetes mean that DNA approaches are not the ideal tool for defining the etiology of this complex disease. Gene expression-based technologies may prove to be a more rewarding strategy to identify diabetes candidate genes. There are a number of RNA-based technologies available to identify genes that are differentially expressed in various tissues in type 2 diabetes. These include differential display polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), and cDNA microarrays. The power of new technologies to detect differential gene expression is ideally suited to studies utilizing appropriate animal models of human disease. We have shown that the gene expression approach, in combination with an excellent animal model such as the Israeli sand rat (Psammomys obesus), can provide novel genes and pathways that may be important in the disease process and provide novel therapeutic approaches. This paper will describe a new gene discovery, beacon, a novel gene linked with energy intake. As the functional characterization of novel genes discovered in our laboratory using this approach continues, it is anticipated that we will soon be able to compile a definitive list of genes that are important in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

History

Journal

Annals of the New York academy of science

Volume

967

Issue

Fourth International Meeting on Lipins and insulin resistance : the role of fatty acid metabolism and fuel partitioning

Pagination

403 - 413

Publisher

New York Academy of Sciences

Location

New York, N.Y.

ISSN

0077-8923

eISSN

1749-6632

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2002, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing