For more than 30 years, scientists have been trying to unravel the mystery of how a key biological molecule self assembles into a rogue protein-like substance known as amyloid, which is thought to play a role in the development of type-2 diabetes - a disease that affects 300 million people worldwide.
In healthy people, a polypeptide is secreted by islets in the pancreas alongside insulin, and it helps regulate blood glucose and the amount of food in the stomach. When the polypeptide malfunctions, it forms amyloid fibrils that kill insulin-producing islets in the pancreas. The build-up of amyloid fibrils is seen in people with type-2 diabetes although the exact mechanism of how it triggers disease is not known.
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An ambitious vision placing Leeds at the global forefront of cancer research is officially set out today. The University is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to create the Leeds Cancer Research Centre, a new venture bringing together