v-FLIP changes the death fate of beta cell Zhu Xiang
When the body need insulin, it will need beta cells to produce it. When beta cells abnormally die too much, people will get type 1 diabetes (T1D). Thus, to conquer T1D, we have to start with preventing beta cell death. We need a hero to save beta cells’ lives in the patients’ body!
And the v-FLIP is the one.
The FLIP is a protein family that could block the messengers that send signals for death. They exist in many types of cells or virus and come in various forms, but do only one thing—
saving lives. I found that v-FLIP, one of the FLIPs from virus, was very protective for beta cells, especially when cells have to face terrible toxins. Whenever there is a “v-FLIP”, there’s a hope of life. Though I don’t know exactly how this protein works, but my research shows that v-FLIP has made the bad guy NF-κB to turn over a new leaf. NF-κB is a two-faced protein family. People know that they indirectly kill beta cells, but I found they were good to beta cells when more v-FLIP was there. NF-κB awakes another two protein warriors A20 and XIAP to join the fight with v-FLIP, and finally they save beta cells from the death fate.
The story of v-FLIP is continued. More secrets of this protein will be discovered in the future.
Once we know exactly how these protective proteins work, we might find out a new solution against diabetes.
Degree project in Applied Biotechnology, Master of Science (2 years), 2009 Examensarbete I biology 30 hp till masterexamen, 2009
Uppsala Biomedicine Centre and Department of Medicine Cell Biology Supervisor: NilsWelsh
ViralFLIP(MCV159) NF-kB activation (P65, P52)
XIAP A20
Caspases activation Cell Death
