Molecular Biology of Diabetes : I. Autoimmunity and Genetics; Insulin Synthesis and Secretion

In a rapidly evolving and extremely important area of medical science, it is often difficult for the student, teacher, and researcher to keep abreast of all the important advances. The purpose of Molecular Biology ofDiabetes, Parts I and II is to bring to these individuals the latest knowledge of diabetes-related research in a comprehensive, yet concise manner. To this end, we have assembled chapters, written by most of the world's experts in the field, that we believe compre­ hensively survey and synthesize a coherent understanding of the subject. Studies of the etiology of type I and type II diabetes are extremely exciting and essential, since we hope to one day prevent the disease using gene therapy. These aspects are covered in Molecular Biology of Diabetes: I. Autoimmunity and Genetics; Insulin Synthesis and Secretion. In type II diabetes, an abnormality in pancreatic secretion exists concomitantly with peripheral insulin resistance. This abnor­ mality of insulin secretion is believed to be related to a defect(s) in glucose sensing. Uncoupling of glucose sensing from insulin secre­ tion may be the crucial step in the pathogenesis of noninsulin-depen­ dent diabetes. In this volume, we have invited authors to describe their studies on all known factors affecting ~-cell function, including autoimmunity and genetics of diabetes, as well as molecular mecha­ nisms of insulin synthesis and secretion. In the last few years, the most rapidly advancing area of research in diabetes has been, in fact, related to insulin action. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Front Matter....Pages N1-N1 Molecular Targets of the Autoimmunity of Type I Diabetes....Pages 1-33 Murine Transgenic Models of IDDM....Pages 35-47 Pancreatic Islet Transplantation....Pages 49-67 Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Diabetes....Pages 69-90 Front Matter....Pages N2-N2 Insulin Gene Structure and Regulation....Pages 91-117 Molecular Engineering of Glucose-Regulated Insulin Secretion....Pages 119-154 Glucokinase Gene Expression and Regulation....Pages 155-174 Fundamentals of Fuel Sensing and Intermediary Metabolism in Pancreatic A-and B-Cells....Pages 175-193 Glucose Toxicity and the Insulin Gene....Pages 195-212 Proinsulin-Processing Endopeptidases....Pages 213-248 GTP and Its Binding Proteins in the Regulation of Insulin Exocytosis....Pages 249-283 β-Cell Receptors....Pages 285-301 Molecular Biology of the Ion Channels in the Pancreatic β-Cell....Pages 303-332 Molecular Biology of Gap Junction Proteins....Pages 333-356 The GIuco-Incretin Hormone Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 and Its β-Cell Receptor....Pages 357-379 Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (IAPP) and Insulin Secretion....Pages 381-398 Back Matter....Pages 399-404 These comprehensive yet concise collections of articles by world experts survey the latest findings on the molecular biology of diabetes and insulin action and synthesize a coherent understanding of the subject. Topics include the etiology of type I and type II diabetes, molecular and cellular aspects of insulin action, and the mechanism of the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake.