Experimental simulation of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP)-pancreatic beta cell membrane interactions: Inferences and implications in the etiopathogenesis of diabetes mellitus type II

<p>Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, an endocrine hormone that regulates blood glucose levels and maintains normal physiological activity in humans and animals. Diabetes mellitus type II is a consequence of the gradual destruction of these important cells, likely by human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) that is co-secreted with insulin. Increasing health care costs, coupled with the World Health Organization’s prediction of a worldwide diabetic epidemic by year 2030, make experimental diabetes research a crucial prologue to future clinical trials in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Diabetes mellitus type II. Our experimental set-up simulates hIAPP peptide fragment and pancreatic beta cell membrane interactions, and it uses density functional methods and circular dichroism spectroscopic analysis of the hIAPP molecule to uncover factors that initiate and promote progression of beta cell death. Results from our study establish the potential role of hIAPP and a two-step molecular mechanism of pancreatic beta cell damage in diabetes mellitus type II.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Year dc:date.available

2012

Author dc:creator

• Pamarthy, Sarika

Contributors dc:contributor

• Deborah Heyl-Clegg
• Maria Milletti
• Timothy Brewer

• Circular dichroism spectroscopy
• Diabetes mellitus
• Dye leakage assay
• human islet amyloid polypeptide hIAPP
• Molecular modeling
• Peptide synthesis
• Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/854

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2237