Protein palmitoylation helps to model the evolution of some forms of type 2 diabetes   

On February 7, Guifang Dong, PhD; Sangeeta Adak, PhD; Qiang Zhang, PhD; Chu Feng, MS; Li Yin, MD; Sarah Speck; Shuntaro Morikawa; Rie Asada, PhD; Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD; Maria Remedi, PhD; Xiaochao Wei, PhD; Clay Semenkovich, MD; and collaborators had their work published in “Cell Metabolism.”  “Hyperinsulinemia often precedes type 2 diabetes,” and palmitoylation, […]

Urano featured in PBS Wolfram syndrome documentary 

In April, Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD was featured in the documentary “Colorado Voices: Ellie White,” to raise awareness of the rare genetic disorder, Wolfram syndrome. The short documentary was published by Rocky Mountain PBS and tells the story of Colorado college student Ellie White, who lives with the disorder. Although the disorder is very rare […]

Urano Lab receives funding to test the efficacy of a Sigma 1 receptor agonist pridopidine

Fumihuko Urano, MD, PhD

The Snow Foundation, the Ellie White Foundation, and the Unravel Wolfram Syndrome have donated funds to the research lab of Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD. The research team will use the funds to test the efficacy of a Sigma 1 receptor agonist, pridopidine, developed by Prilenia in pre-clinical models of Wolfram syndrome. Successful completion of this […]

Semenkovich Lab and collaborators show the evolution of type 2 diabetes through APT1 deficiency 

On January 11, Semenkovich Lab and collaborators, had their research titled “Palmitoylation couples insulin hypersecretion with β cell failure in diabetes,” published in “Cell Metabolism.”  Hyperinsulinemia is known to often come before type 2 diabetes. In the study, they explain how acyl-protein thioesterase 1 (APT1) knockdown in nondiabetic islets causes insulin hypersecretion.  By using palmitoylation proteomics, their […]

Millman and Urano publish research on patient iPSC-derived disease models 

On September 22, Jeffrey R. Millman, PhD and Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD, along with colleagues, had their research titled, “Multidimensional analysis and therapeutic development using patient iPSC–derived disease models of Wolfram syndrome,” published in “JCI Insight.”  “Wolfram syndrome is a rare genetic disorder largely caused by pathogenic variants in the WFS1 gene and manifested by diabetes mellitus, […]

Urano publishes research on elevated plasma neurofilament light chain levels in patients with Wolfram Syndrome 

Fumihuko Urano, MD, PhD

On April 12, Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD and colleagues had their research titled, “Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain Levels Are Elevated in Children and Young Adults With Wolfram Syndrome,” published in “Frontiers in Neuroscience.”  “Wolfram syndrome is a rare disease caused by pathogenic variants in the WFS1 gene with progressive neurodegeneration. As an easily accessible biomarker […]