Role of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in regulation of AMPK signalling

PTP1B is a major regulator of glucose homeostasis and body weight through its role in insulin and leptin receptor pathways. Mice lacking the gene are resistant to the development of diabetes and obesity. AMPK is a protein which is activated during exercise and metformin, an anti-diabetic drug, exerts it effects by activating this protein. It is suggested that PTP1B may be able to regulate AMPK activity levels and maybe in this way improve insulin sensitivity. This project will test the hypothesis that deletion of PTP1B in fat cells will increase AMPK activity, by using a fat cell line which lacks PTP1B to investigate this in detail.