SAN DIEGO, April 10 U.S. scientists who earlier found an enzyme that's a natural tumor suppressor have identified two variants that could treat diabetes and other diseases.University of California-San Diego Professor Alexandra Newton and colleagues discovered an enzyme in 2005 they named PH domain Leucine-rich repeat Protein Phosphatase, or PHLPP, that turns off signaling of the Akt/protein kinase B, a protein that controls cell growth, proliferation and survival.The new work involves a second family member, PHLPP2, which also inactivates Akt, inhibiting the cell cycle progression and promoting cell death. However, PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 control three different disease pathways. While both are important in cancer, the researchers said PHLPP 1 impacts an important pathway in diabetes and PHLPP2 could be useful in fighting heart and neurological disease.The study is detailed in the journal Molecular Cell.Copyright 2007 by UPI
