Inhibition of IAPP (Amylin) Toxicity in Type 2 Diabetes
This is a potential Honours or PhD project in the laboratory. There is increasing recognition that the build-up of amyloid may be involved in a large number of chronic degenerative diseases. In type 2 diabetes, the build-up of amylin commonly occurs within pancreatic islets. Although amylin was once thought to be an epiphenomenon of the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), it is increasingly recognised it may have a primary role to play in the disease. Amylin is a type of amyloid composed of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). Similar to the case of A&beta in Alzheimer's disease, IAPP can aggregate to form amyloid deposits. This project will test the hypothesis that oligomeric forms IAPP has a primary role to play in the degeneration of pancreatic function in T2DM. The project will examine the molecular mechanisms governing IAPP toxicity.
The student will:
- Study the aggregation of IAPP using a biophysical technique know as dynamic light scattering
- Examine the ability of low molecular weight glycosaminoglycan (molecules which bind to amyloids) to block IAPP aggregation
- Examine the effect of IAPP on insulin secretion and the viability and calcium metabolism of a cultured insulinoma cell line
- Test the ability of glycosaminoglycans to block the toxic effects of IAPP on the insulinoma cell line
Related Diseases
Staff
Team Leaders
- Professor David Small (Professorial Fellow)
Team Members
- Dr Rob Gasperini (Research Fellow)