New Glucose 'Sensor' Discovered

Filed in archive Research on December 30, 2006

In a move that will increase the amazing research into diabetes even more, researchers recently uncovered a previously undiscovered glucose 'sensor' in the human body. Apparently, it serves a dual purpose, regulating both glucose metabolism synthesis of fat.

enrique Saez, lead researcher, said: "When you eat, glucose pours into the gut and is recognized by LXR in the liver, which then activates expression of the enzymes that turn excess glucose into triglycerides that are stored as fat."

"The fact that our study demonstrates that LXR does both-it binds to glucose and it induces fatty acid synthesis-is significant and makes LXR a potential target for diabetes and obesity treatments," Saez explained in a press release.