Diabetic pancreatic β cells ARNT all they should be

A complex network of interacting transcription factors plays a critical role in normal pancreatic β cell function, with mutations in certain transcription factor genes known to cause diabetes. In a recent issue of Cell, Gunton et al. (2005) demonstrate a role for the transcription factor ARNT/HIF1β (hydrocarbon nuclear receptor translocator/hypoxia-inducible factor 1 β) in normal β cell function. ARNT expression is reduced in diabetic human islets and β cell-specific ARNT knockout mice show the impaired glucose tolerance and abnormal insulin secretion that are characteristic of type 2 diabetes