Assay development and multivariate scoring for high-content discovery of chemoprotectants of endoplasmic-reticulum-stress-mediated amylin-induced cytotoxicity in pancreatic beta cells.

The underlying pathogenesis of type-II diabetes mellitus is in the dysfunction and selective loss of pancreatic islet β-cells, which ultimately leads to underproduction of endogenous insulin. Amylin, a 37-amino-acid human hormone that is cosecreted with insulin, helps regulate gastric emptying and maintain blood glucose homeostasis through improved postprandial satiety. It is hypothesized that amylin protofibrils cause selective loss of pancreatic β-cells in a manner similar to amyloid β aggregation in Alzheimer's disease.

Substrate specificity of 6-O-endosulfatase (Sulf-2) and its implications in synthesizing anticoagulant heparan sulfate.

Heparan sulfate (HS) 6-O-endosulfatase (Sulf) catalyzes the hydrolysis of 6-O-sulfo groups from HS polysaccharides. The resultant HS has reduced sulfation levels and displays altered biological activities. The Sulfs have been associated with several cancers and developmental problems and could function as a tool for editing specific HS structures.