Bio Briefs

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Matt Nelson

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May 04, 2010
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New culprit in muscle defects, insulin resistance that come with age

Tags: arizona state university, diabetes, mayo clinic

[Source: ScienceDaily] - Type 2 diabetes is a widespread problem for many people these days, and our risk for insulin resistance and diabetes only grows as we age. Now, a new report in the May issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, reveals a new contributor to the problem: The muscles of elderly people and of people with type 2 diabetes contain lower concentrations of a protein known as PARL (short for "presenilin-associated rhomboid-like").

PARL plays an important role within cells in remodeling power-generating mitochondria. It's PARL's job to oversee mitochondria's quality control, specifically by maintaining their integrity as the cellular components undergo normal processes of fission and fusion.

The findings provide yet another link between insulin resistance and the function of mitochondria, the researchers say.

For more information: New Culprit in Muscle Defects, Insulin Resistance That Come With Age