White adipose tissue is an endocrine organ that plays a key role in metabolism. Obesity-driven white adipose tissue dysfunction is one of the main causes of type 2 diabetes. The protein PICALM plays a role in the formation of vesicles that transport important substances within the cell. It was recently discovered that PICALM also influences glucose transport in fat cells.
Differential Gene Expression of PICALM in Diabetes-Prone and Diabetes-Resistant Mice
Although adipose tissue only takes up around 5 percent of postprandial glucose, the insulin-stimulated uptake of glucose into fat cells is important for energy homeostasis. Disturbances to this process can lead to fat deposits in organs such as the liver and muscles. The DIfE team headed by PD Dr. Heike Vogel identified PICALM as a gene with strong expression differences in diabetes-prone and diabetes-resistant mice.