The Skeleton Regulates Energy Metabolism 

Erik Shipley - BIOC 462B Honors - Spring 2008

The skeleton regulates sugar metabolism

Lee et al. (2007) recently discovered that a hormone made by the bone plays a major role in sugar metabolism and links biological functions of the skeleton to the endocrine systems. The peptide hormone made by bone cells, osteocalcin, signals for many events as evident in the clues from Esp-/- mice: pancreatic β-cell proliferation, which increases insulin capacity, and increased adiponectin synthesis, which amplifies insulin sensitivity, resulting in a metabolism more capable of avoiding metabolic syndromes like diabetes and obesity. The results of Lee et al. (2007) have opened new doors for more approaches to therapy for diabetes by mapping the basic pathway regulated by osteocalcin and uncovering key biochemical characteristics of osteocalcin. (Lee et al. 2007)

Figure 1. A ribbon diagram of osteocalcin. (Hannah Pharmaceutical)

How to use this web site - This web site follows a fairly linear format. The background should be read first to gain a basic understanding of the concepts used in the paper. Once an understanding of the cell types, hormones, and miscellaneous molecules is achieved, you should go on to the discovery to read about the experiments and results gathered by Lee et al. (2007) Finally, finish on the implications page and learn why the discovery by Lee et al. (2007) is scientifically important and how its findings can be used for the benefit of everyday citizens.