Researchers from the Université de Montréal and the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) have made a game-changing discovery in our understanding of diabetes, identifying an innovative role for vitamin K and gamma-carboxylation in pancreatic beta cells.
This breakthrough, the first in 15 years of basic research, broadens our comprehension of diabetes, a condition affecting one in eleven individuals globally.
The study, published in Cell Reports, elucidates how vitamin K can fend off diabetes, paving the way for potential new therapeutic applications in treating type 2 diabetes.
Unraveling Vitamin K and Gamma-carboxylation Beyond Blood Clotting
Known predominantly for its function in blood clotting, specifically its role in gamma-carboxylation—a critical enzymatic reaction in the clotting process—vitamin K has been suspected of possessing additional essential functions.
Past studies have indicated a potential correlation between lower vitamin K intake and increased diabetes risk. Still, the mechanisms through which vitamin K protects against diabetes have remained elusive until now.
A Vital Function in Pancreatic Beta Cells
The research team, led by Mathieu Ferron, Associate Research Professor of Medicine at Université de Montréal, found that enzymes involved in gamma-carboxylation—and thus, the utilization of vitamin K—are abundantly present in pancreatic beta cells, which are responsible for insulin production, a key hormone in blood sugar regulation.
Given that diabetes typically stems from a reduction in beta cells or their impaired insulin production, these findings drew significant interest from the researchers.
Introducing a New Gamma-carboxylated Protein
The researchers identified a novel gamma-carboxylated protein named ERGP, which maintains the physiological calcium levels in beta cells to prevent disruptions in insulin secretion.
The study demonstrated that vitamin K, through gamma-carboxylation, is crucial for optimal ERGP function.
This discovery represents the first identification of a new vitamin K-dependent protein in 15 years, propelling forward a brand-new research field.
This revelation might herald a new era in understanding and potentially treating diabetes, one of the most widespread diseases globally.
The discovery underlines the importance of vitamin K, not just in blood clotting but also in the broader context of human health and disease prevention, particularly in relation to diabetes.
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