RT Journal
A1 Hampton T
T1 DIet and diabetes link
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2011
FD October 5
VO 306
IS 13
SP 1431
OP 1431
DO 10.1001/jama.2011.1391
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2011.1391
AB 
Investigators at the Center for Nanomedicine, a collaboration between the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, found that the pancreatic beta cells of mice fed a high-fat diet had reduced expression of 2 transcription factors, FOXA2 and HNF1A. This in turn diminished expression of GnT-4a glycosyltransferase, an enzyme required for the transport of glucose across pancreatic beta-cell membranes. Affected mice exhibited signs typical of metabolic syndrome, including hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and hyperinsulinemia. Preserving GnT-4a function in mice blocked the onset of diabetes, even in obese animals.