Wellness Diabetes

Microscopy Breakthrough Will Aid Diabetes Research

Could a diabetes breakthrough come in the form of better technology and techniques? New research says yes.

Innovations in microscopy

Until recently, quality images of GLP1R—a receptor protein on beta cells—have been elusive. These specialized cells in the pancreas and some brain cells produce insulin, making them vital to diabetes researchers. But because of the receptor’s size, it’s been difficult to study them.

But researchers from the University of Birmingham and other institutions around the globe have gotten innovative; and now they can study these receptors.

The teams used a combination of super-resolution microscopy and immunostaining to look at mouse models and were able to determine not only exactly where these receptors are on cells, but also how they react to signal molecules

Thanks to this innovation, the scientists were able to map GLP1R, compile updated information on the receptor proteins and indicate how to detect the presence of the molecule.

“Think about watching a movie in standard definition vs. 4K, that’s how big the difference is,” explains Professor David Hodson. “We believe this breakthrough will give us a much greater understanding of GLP1R distribution and function. Whilst this will not immediately change treatment for patients, it might influence how we design drugs in the future.”

The importance of the research

The research was partially funded by Diabetes UK, a research charity. 

“The effects of type 2 diabetes are serious and widespread,” explains Elizabeth Robertson, Ph.D., who is the director of research at Diabetes UK, “so finding more effective treatments to help people manage their condition and reduce their risk of its potentially devastating complications is absolutely vital. Through innovative research like this, we can get to grips with key aspects of type 2 diabetes in unprecedented detail and blaze a trail towards better treatments.”

The research will be published in more detail in a new paper in the journal Nature Communications.

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