Zinc Transporters, Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Utility: Implications for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Zinc is an essential trace element that plays a vital role in maintaining many biological processes and cellular homeostasis. Dysfunctional zinc signaling is associated with a number of chronic disease states including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. Cellular homeo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/173712 |
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| author | Stephen A. Myers Alex Nield Mark Myers |
| author_facet | Stephen A. Myers Alex Nield Mark Myers |
| author_sort | Stephen A. Myers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zinc is an essential trace element that plays a vital role in maintaining many biological processes and cellular homeostasis. Dysfunctional zinc signaling is associated with a number of chronic disease states including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. Cellular homeostasis requires mechanisms that tightly control the uptake, storage, and distribution of zinc. This is achieved through the coordinated actions of zinc transporters and metallothioneins. Evidence on the role of these proteins in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is now emerging. Zinc plays a key role in the synthesis, secretion and action of insulin in both physiological and pathophysiological states. Moreover, recent studies highlight zinc’s dynamic role as a “cellular second messenger” in the control of insulin signaling and glucose homeostasis. This suggests that zinc plays an unidentified role as a novel second messenger that augments insulin activity. This previously unexplored concept would raise a whole new area of research into the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and introduce a new class of drug target with utility for diabetes pharmacotherapy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-08042820f7b84267b89234d590ff1de8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-0724 2090-0732 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism |
| spelling | doaj-art-08042820f7b84267b89234d590ff1de82025-02-03T01:01:38ZengWileyJournal of Nutrition and Metabolism2090-07242090-07322012-01-01201210.1155/2012/173712173712Zinc Transporters, Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Utility: Implications for Type 2 Diabetes MellitusStephen A. Myers0Alex Nield1Mark Myers2School of Health Sciences, University of Ballarat, University Drive, Mount Helen, VIC 3350, AustraliaSchool of Health Sciences, University of Ballarat, University Drive, Mount Helen, VIC 3350, AustraliaSchool of Health Sciences, University of Ballarat, University Drive, Mount Helen, VIC 3350, AustraliaZinc is an essential trace element that plays a vital role in maintaining many biological processes and cellular homeostasis. Dysfunctional zinc signaling is associated with a number of chronic disease states including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. Cellular homeostasis requires mechanisms that tightly control the uptake, storage, and distribution of zinc. This is achieved through the coordinated actions of zinc transporters and metallothioneins. Evidence on the role of these proteins in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is now emerging. Zinc plays a key role in the synthesis, secretion and action of insulin in both physiological and pathophysiological states. Moreover, recent studies highlight zinc’s dynamic role as a “cellular second messenger” in the control of insulin signaling and glucose homeostasis. This suggests that zinc plays an unidentified role as a novel second messenger that augments insulin activity. This previously unexplored concept would raise a whole new area of research into the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and introduce a new class of drug target with utility for diabetes pharmacotherapy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/173712 |
| spellingShingle | Stephen A. Myers Alex Nield Mark Myers Zinc Transporters, Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Utility: Implications for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism |
| title | Zinc Transporters, Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Utility: Implications for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_full | Zinc Transporters, Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Utility: Implications for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_fullStr | Zinc Transporters, Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Utility: Implications for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Zinc Transporters, Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Utility: Implications for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_short | Zinc Transporters, Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Utility: Implications for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_sort | zinc transporters mechanisms of action and therapeutic utility implications for type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/173712 |
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