Scientists at the Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered a molecular pathway that is activated a long time before people develop type II diabetes. The research was carried out to identify factors that played a vital role in the development of this chronic condition.

The report has appeared in the online edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation on the 14th of January, 2011. It was led by Dr. Allison Goldfine of the Joslin Diabetes Center, who took muscle samples of people from three different categories. Samples were taken from healthy people, people with a family history of diabetes with signs of insulin resistance and those suffering from type II diabetes.

Following a proper analysis, it was found that people belonging to the diabetic groups expressed twice the amounts of the gene STARS when compared to normal people. STARS further activated other genes found commonly in diabetic people and the protein known as MKL1.

Talking about the research, Dr. Patti of the Harvard University informed that the findings were revolutionary and can possible pave the way for the development of therapies for treating diabetes.

The Joslin Diabetes Centre is known for its work regarding diabetes research. It was set up more than a century ago, in the year 1898, by Elliott P. Joslin, and is affiliated with the Harvard Medical School as a nonprofit organization.