Canadian researchers have identified a new role for vitamin K and the enzymatic “gamma-carboxylation” reaction in beta cells and their potential protective role in diabetes after 15 years of research.
The discovery, made by researchers at the University of Montreal and its Institute for Clinical Research of Montreal (IRCM), is a welcome advance in understanding the mechanisms behind diabetes, a disease that affects one in 11 people worldwide and has no cure.
A study published May 11 in Cell Reports explains, at least in part, how vitamin K helps prevent diabetes and could lead to new therapeutic uses for type 2 diabetes.
Vitamin K is a trace mineral known for its role in blood clotting, especially in gamma carboxylation, an enzymatic reaction required for this process. For several years, it has been suggested that this vitamin, and hence gamma carboxylate, may have other functions as well.
Several studies suggest a link between low vitamin K intake and an increased risk of developing diabetes. However, the biological mechanisms by which vitamin K protects against diabetes are still a mystery.
enzymes in large quantities
Mathieu Veron, associate professor of medicine at the University of Montreal, and his team at the Montreal Institute of Clinical Research were able to determine for the first time that the enzymes involved in “gamma carboxylation” and thus in the utilization of vitamin K are present in large quantities in pancreatic beta-coagulants. cells, cells that produce the precious insulin that controls blood sugar levels.
“Diabetes is known to be caused by a decrease in the number of beta cells or their inability to produce enough insulin, so we are very interested in this new discovery,” said Verone, a lead researcher in molecular biology. the cellular mechanism by which vitamin K is maintained. To determine the function of beta cells, it was necessary to identify the protein that undergoes gamma carboxylation in these cells.”
Julie Lacombe, who did the work at Verona’s lab, added: “We’ve been able to identify a new gamma carboxylate protein called ERGP. Our study shows that this protein plays an important role in maintaining physiological levels of calcium in beta cells to prevent impaired insulin secretion. Finally, we show that vitamin K, via gamma carboxylation, is required for ERGP function.”
For the first time in 15 years, a new vitamin K-dependent protein has been identified, opening up new research opportunities.
Source: Medical Express
