Home > Franz M. Matschinsky, M.D.

Franz M. Matschinsky, M.D.

DERC - University of Pennsylvania, Proffesor of Biochemistry and Biophysics ,Director of Islet Biology Core
DERC - U Pennsylvania Islet Cell Biology Core
[E-MAIL] PHONE: (215)-898-4368
University of Pennsylvania 605 CRB 15 Curie Boulevard Philadelphia, PA 19104-6015

DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH INTERESTS:

The laboratory investigates the biochemical basis of fuel sensing by pancreatic islet cells, in particular the molecular mechanisms of amino acid, fatty acid and glucose stimulated insulin release. The "glucokinase glucose sensor concept" is central to all these studies. The endocrine, neural and pharmacological modification of fuel stimulated insulin release is another focus of the laboratory. The molecular genetic basis of glucokinase linked hypo-and hyperglycemia syndromes which are caused by more than 200 mutations of the glucokinase (GK) gene in man continue to be a topic of intense interest. A newly discovered class of pharmacological agents called GK activators (GKAs) are studied with recombinant human wildtype and mutant GK, with intact pancreatic islet cells and in the intact animal to assess the therapeutic potential of these agents for the treatment of type II and perhaps type I diabetes.

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