Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Gene

Description: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a highly prevalent metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) as a result of defective insulin action which manifests as insulin resistance, defective insulin secretion, or both. Due to the severity of some of its complications, early detection of diabetes is critical. The majority of patients with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, the non-insulin dependent form. The invention is based on the discovery of a gene correlated with susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes, located within a previously identified 10-cM locus (Klupa, et al. (2000) Diabetes 49:2212-2216). Preliminary analysis of recombination events within families most strongly linked at this locus has allowed the narrowing of the critical region to an interval less than 1MB in length. Through genomic analysis, six known genes and several new genes were mapped to this region, at least one of which is believed to be a true transcript. Clinical & Commercial Utility: The invention comprises the sequence of a novel diabetes susceptibility gene and its gene product, as well as numerous polymorphisms in this gene that correlate with the incidence of diabetes in patients. The invention can therefore be used in diagnostic tests to detect a genetic susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes. The protein product of this gene may be a useful target in diabetes drug development, once more is learned about its function.
A U.S. patent application claiming this invention has been filed.

Type of Offer: Licensing



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