Delineating the role of prohibitin in insulin signaling

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The body gets energy by making glucose from foods. To use this glucose, the body needs insulin. Insulin is a hormone (chemical messenger in the body) which is produced from the pancreas that helps the body control the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood and ensures that the body's energy needs are met. Insulin's action on the body is mediated by a complex, highly integrated network of proteins. In the presence of insulin, the insulin receptor (a protein on the cell surface that juts out and latches onto insulin) initiate insulin signaling (sequence of biochemical reaction) which is responsible for insulin's actions in the body. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be understood. Our studies have focused on advancing our understanding of insulin signaling and action. We have found that a protein called prohibitin modulates insulin signaling and interacts with a number of proteins known to be involved in insulin signaling. However, the mechanism involved in the role of prohibitin in insulin signaling is not known. In addition, we have found that prohibitin binds to iron. It is not known whether iron binding function of prohibitin is interlinked with its insulin signaling function. In this study we will dissect the underlying mechanism involved in the role of prohibitin in insulin signaling. In addition we will determine whether iron binding function of prohibitin play a role in this process. This study will advance our understanding of a physiologically essential cell-signaling network of insulin in general and provide insight into the role of prohibitin in particular.