Identification of genes in the liver of Psammomys obesus associated with Type II diabetes

Type II diabetes is characterised by hyperglycemia and disturbances of fat, carbohydrate and protein metabolism. It occurs mainly in adults, with obesity being the most modifiable risk factor. This project utilised the Israeli Sand Rat (Psammomys obesus) and some of the latest molecular biology technology including differential display, membrane microarray and real-time PCR to detect genes in the liver that may be associated with the development of Type II diabetes and/or obesity. This study showed calpain, a proteolytic inhibitor and calpastatin, its natural inhibitor to be disregulated in the liver during the diabetic state.