Projects

The phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of many proteins plays a vital role in insulin actions, beginning with the receptor which is itself a protein tyrosine kinase. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase is an important “downstream target” for insulin action, showing increased phosphorylation and activation in response to the hormone. Our current studies are therefore concerned with:

  • the structure, function and regulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase,
  • purification and characterization of insulin-stimulated protein kinases,
  • actions of insulin-mimetic and potentially anti-diabetic agents which are able to affect protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reactions — notably actions of vanadium,
  • development of techniques to employ primary human cells (especially circulating mononuclear cells) in order to apply our biochemical understanding of insulin actions to expose abnormalities in human diabetes.

a place of mind, The University of British Columbia

Diabetes Research Group
2350 Health Sciences Mall,
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
Tel: 604.827.4982

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