Gene Expression Profiling of Skeletal Muscle Insulin Response

Grant Winner

Dean

Abstract

The goal of this research project is to gain understanding of the insulin signaling pathway in skeletal muscle. Microarray analysis will enable the simultaneous interrogation of 8000 genes to determine which are regulated in skeletal muscle by insulin. In addition to its role in posture and locomotion, skeletal muscle is a metabolic organ that mediates the majority of glucose homeostasis such that energy needs of all tissues of the body are best met. Type 2 diabetes, with over ten million diagnosed cases in the United States and over 100 million worldwide, arises from defects in the insulin-signaling pathway may generate leads to develop more effective therapeutic strategies. Gene expression levels of 8000 genes will be compared between the two conditions. Genes that are observed to be insulin-responsive will be placed in a theoretical framework based on their function to attempt to understand as fully as possible role of gene expression insulin signaling. This framework will suggest those genes that deserve further study to elaborate their role in insulin signal transduction. The information generated in this way will expand our knowledge of the mechanisms that underlie insulin control of skeletal muscle gene expression and their relevance to whole body energy homeostasis.