Mice fed with the cytohesin inhibitor SecinH3 for two days develop hepatic insulin resistance that can be identified by reduced liver glycogen levels, increased serum insulin and ketone body levels and decreased serum non-esterified fatty acid. To confirm the presence and identity of SecinH3 in mouse liver, we extracted the compound from liver homogenates with chloroform and identified it by LC/MS. - [Read Extraction of the SecinH3 from Mouse Liver Protocol]
New screening efforts and chemical modifications of existing compounds have been attempted to identify more selective and potent inhibitors. To determine the selectivity of the inhibitors identified during screening efforts we developed gel-elongation assay using crude bacterial lysate directly to determine the target specificities of fatty acid synthesis inhibitors. - [Read Gel-elongation Assay for Type II Fatty Acid Synthesis Protocol]
The basis of this procedure is that two specific cell type preparations may be isolated, exposed separately to various compounds over a range of concentrations, and the cytotoxicity of these determined. Parameters deemed indicative of a cytotoxic effect include a reduction in de novo protein synthesis and decreased glucose and fatty acid metabolism. A cytotoxic effect may indicate that a chemical is likely to be nephrotoxic in vivo. - [Read Isolated Rat Glomeruli and Proximal Tubules]