Edible
Compound Mimics Insulin
A compound extracted from a tropical
fungus works like insulin when fed to mice, and it may be developed
into an oral diabetes drug.
References:
Zhang, B., et al. 1999. Discovery of a small-molecule insulin
mimetic with antidiabetic activity in mice. Science 284(May
7):974.
Further Readings:
1996. The pathophysiology of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
New England Journal of Medicine 334(Feb. 29):574.
Yki-Jarvinen, H. 1994. Pathogenesis of non-insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus. Lancet 343(Jan. 8):91.
Hubbard, S.R., et al. 1994. Crystal structure of the tyrosine
kinase domain of the human insulin receptor. Nature 372(Dec.
22/29):746.
LeRoith, D. 1997. Insulin-like growth factors. New England Journal
of Medicine 336(Feb. 27):633.
Seppa, N. 1997. Insulin may guide gene expression. Science News
152(Nov. 1):276.
Travis, J. 1991. Helping diabetics shed pins and needles. Science
News 140(July 6):4.
Sources:
Derek LeRoith
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Building 10, Room 8D12
Bethesda, MD 20892-1758
Bei Zhang
Merck Research Laboratories
Department of Molecular Endocrinology
R80W250
P.O. Box 2000
Rahway, NJ 07065
From Science
News, Vol. 155, No. 19, May 8, 1999, p. 292.
Copyright © 1999, Science Service.
