Authors: Lawless, M. W.; O'Byrne, K. J.; Gray, S. G.

Source: Current Diabetes Reviews, Volume 5, Number 3, August 2009 , pp. 201-209(9)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Globally, obesity and diabetes (particularly type 2 diabetes) represents a major challenge to world health. Despite decades of intense research efforts, the genetic basis involved in diabetes pathogenesis & conditions associated with obesity are still poorly understood. Recent advances have led to exciting new developments implicating epigenetics as an important mechanism underpinning diabetes and obesity related disease. One epigenetic mechanism known as the “histone code” describes the idea that specific patterns of post-translational modifications to histones act like a molecular “code” recognised and used by non-histone proteins to regulate specific chromatin functions. One modification which has received significant attention is that of histone acetylation. The enzymes which regulate this modification are described as lysine acetyltransferases or KATs and histone deacetylases or HDACs. Due to their conserved catalytic domain HDACs have been actively targeted as a therapeutic target. Some of the known inhibitors of HDACs (HDACi) have also been shown to act as “chemical chaperones” to alleviate diabetic symptoms. In this review, we discuss the available evidence concerning the roles of HDACs in regulating chaperone function and how this may have implications in the management of diabetes.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157339909788920956

Publication date: 2009-08-01

More about this publication?

• Current Diabetes Reviews publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances on diabetes and its related areas e.g. pharmacology, pathogenesis, complications, epidemiology, clinical care, and therapy.
  
  The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to clinical research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all researchers and clinicians who are involved in the field of diabetes.

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Medicine ,  Medicine (General)
• By this author: Lawless, M. W. ;  O'Byrne, K. J. ;  Gray, S. G.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers