Mechanisms of transcriptional control of glucose metabolism in hepatocytes

Abstract

The hepatic tissue plays a key role in the regulation and maintenance of stable blood glucose levels. The liver is the main gluconeogenesis organ of the body and is under constant hormonal control to determine the metabolic activity of hepatocytes. Hormonal signals trigger multiple post-translational regulatory mechanisms that alter the activity of key enzymes of glucose metabolism. A crucial role in the long-term control of glucose production and metabolism is played by pre-translational regulation at the level of gene expression of metabolic enzymes. There is growing evidence that this regulation, which is realised via control of the activity of transcription factors, provides constant adjustment of the body to changing environmental conditions and that its disruption leads to the development of metabolic diseases associated with insulin resistance. Therefore, the study of transcription factors that regulate glucose metabolism in the liver and the search for mechanisms to control them is of great biomedical importance in the context of metabolic disease treatment research.

Keywords

• gluconeogenesis
• glycolysis
• transcription factors
• hepatocytes