Title
Hoofbeats, Zebras, and Insights into Insulin Resistance
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-2-2009
Journal
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Volume
119
Issue
2
First Page
249
Last Page
251
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1172/JCI38420
Abstract
In this issue of the JCI, Semple and colleagues report phenotypic evaluation of patients with a germline mutation in the gene encoding serine/threonine kinase AKT2 (see the related article beginning on page 315). Their findings support the idea that the postreceptor actions of insulin in the liver--suppression of gluconeogenesis and stimulation of lipogenesis--are mediated through divergent pathways that can be uncoupled. The results appear to refine the arrangement of crucial steps along these pathways and show how comprehensive study of the phenotype, "deep phenotyping," of patients who carry rare mutations might complement other types of experiments to elucidate complex pathways and mechanisms.
