Dr. Guifong Dong joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research as an Instructor as of July 2023. Beta cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are two major pathophysiological defects in type 2 diabetes (T2D). S-palmitoylation/S-acylation describes the reversible attachment of palmitate onto cysteine residues. Depalmitoylation refers to the removal of palmitate from cysteines, which is mainly mediated by acyl-protein thioesterase 1 (APT1). I am focusing on the physiological role of APT1 in T2D. I am trying to figure out how APT1 promotes hyperinsulinemia under the normal physiological condition and subsequent hypoinsulinemia followed by beta cell failure under the T2D condition.
Dr. Guifang Dong joins the Department of Medicine
