Membrane microdomains and insulin resistance

A new concept, that metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, are membrane microdomain disorders caused by aberrant expression of gangliosides, has arisen. By examining this working hypothesis, we demonstrate the molecular pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance focusing on the interaction between insulin receptor and gangliosides in microdomains and propose the new therapeutic strategy membrane microdomain ortho-signaling therapy. (C) 2009 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.