Bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7) was initially identified as a tumor suppressor, but further research has shown it has a broader role in other cellular processes, including the remodeling of chromosomes and cell cycle progression.
Now, Boston Children’s Division of Endocrinology researchers have discovered another purpose for BRD7: It seems to be involved in an alternative insulin signaling pathway, the existence of which had been speculated about for decades. Their finding could lead to new insights on previously unknown aspects of insulin signaling in obesity. “The ultimate goal will be to find a way to reverse the type 2 diabetic features associated with obesity,” says Sang Won Park, PhD, who was the corresponding author of this latest study on BRD7.
