Masters Degrees (Physiological Sciences)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Physiological Sciences) by Author "Coomer, Megan"

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    Investigating differential non-oxidative glucose-utilizing pathway gene expression as a novel diagnostic tool for type 2 diabetes
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-12) Coomer, Megan; Essop, M. Faadiel; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Physiological Sciences.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Context: Despite the availability and accessibility of current diagnostic tools, diabetes remains largely under-diagnosed. Biological limitations, discordant assays and conflicting diagnostic thresholds together impede the accurate and successful diagnosis of diabetes, providing impetus into research for a novel diagnostic tool. Aim: Since flux through the five minor glycolytic pathways is increased during hyperglycemia, we hypothesized that the genes encoding the regulatory enzymes of such pathways may be differentially expressed between control, pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals setting the scene for an exploratory diagnostic avenue employing genetic biomarkers. Experimental procedures: Participants (n=60; n=20 Mixed Ancestry, n=40 Caucasian) were recruited from Stellenbosch and Paarl (Western Cape, South Africa) and classified as control, pre-diabetic or diabetic. RNA was purified from leukocytes isolated from blood samples and OGT, OGA, GFPT1, GFPT2, TKT, TKTL1 and AKR1B1 expression determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Expression of OGA, OGT, GFPT2 and TKTL1 decreased in pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals; while GFPT1, TKT and AKR1B1 expression levels remained largely unaffected between the study groups. GFPT2 exhibited ethnic-dependent regulation. Conclusion: Differential expression of genes regulating non-oxidative glucose-utilizing pathways may offer diagnostic utility in the future and warrant further investigation.