Changes in glycogen structure over feeding cycle sheds new light on blood-glucose control.
Biomacromolecules
; 15(2): 660-5, 2014 Feb 10.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24372590
ABSTRACT
Liver glycogen, a highly branched polymer of glucose, is important for maintaining blood-glucose homeostasis. It was recently shown that db/db mice, a model for Type 2 diabetes, are unable to form the large composite glycogen α particles present in normal, healthy mice. In this study, the structure of healthy mouse-liver glycogen over the diurnal cycle was characterized using size exclusion chromatography and transmission electron microscopy. Glycogen was found to be formed as smaller ß particles, and then only assembled into large α particles, with a broad size distribution, significantly after the time when glycogen content had reached a maximum. This pathway, missing in diabetic animals, is likely to give optimal blood-glucose control during the daily feeding cycle. Lack of this control may contribute to, or result from, diabetes. This discovery suggests novel approaches to diabetes management.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Blood Glucose
/
Dietary Fats
/
Circadian Rhythm
/
Glycogen
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Biomacromolecules
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China