Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting a modification present in RNA using a small amount of RNA sample. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting a modification present in tRNA, for example, thiomethylation. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting the thiomethylation of tRNA, thereby diagnosing human type 2 diabetes or the risk thereof. The present invention is characterized in that, with respect to a modification present in RNA in an RNA sample, cDNA is produced by reverse transcription of RNA using a first primer, and the resulting amount of cDNA is compared with the amount of cDNA produced by reverse transcription of RNA using a second primer, thereby detecting a modification (e.g., thiomethylation) present in RNA.

Abstract: An exemplary method can be provided for detecting a modified nucleoside of mitochondrial transition RNA (mt-tRNA). Another exemplary method can be provided for detecting a modified nucleoside in mt-tRNA, which can use tandem mass analysis. For exemplary, it is possible to detect a modified nucleoside (for example, 5-taurinomethyl-2-thiouridine (?m5s2U), 5-taurinomethyluridine (?m5U), 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyl adenosine (ms2i6A)) in a body fluid sample such as urine or a sample of cell culture supernatant.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel therapeutic agent for a patient with type 2 diabetes, a cause of which is the abnormal synthesis of insulin attributed to the abnormal modification of tRNALys (UUU) in pancreatic ? cells having Cdkal1 gene mutation. The present inventors have used (1) a screening system using E. coli in which correct translation into luciferase requires frameshift resulting from mistranslation during protein translation, (2) a screening system using the pancreatic islet of Langerhans isolated from a pancreatic ? cell-specific Cdkal1-deficient mouse, and (3) a screening system using a pancreatic ? cell-specific Cdkal1-deficient mouse, and found that a compound represented by any of the following formulas (I) to (III) can serve as a therapeutic agent for a patient with type 2 diabetes with Cdkal1 gene mutation resulting in the reduced ability to secrete insulin.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting a modification present in RNA using a small amount of RNA sample. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting a modification present in tRNA, for example, thiomethylation. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting the thiomethylation of tRNA, thereby diagnosing human type 2 diabetes or the risk thereof. The present invention is characterized in that, with respect to a modification present in RNA in an RNA sample, cDNA is produced by reverse transcription of RNA using a first primer, and the resulting amount of cDNA is compared with the amount of cDNA produced by reverse transcription of RNA using a second primer, thereby detecting a modification (e.g., thiomethylation) present in RNA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human mammalian animal model for type 2 diabetes, which spontaneously develops a pathological condition similar to human type 2 diabetes of a non-obese type seen in some Japanese people. The non-human mammalian animal model for type 2 diabetes according to the present invention is deficient in a Cdkal1 gene function on the chromosome of the ? cell of the pancreas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human mammalian animal model for type 2 diabetes, which spontaneously develops a pathological condition similar to human type 2 diabetes of a non-obese type popular for the Japanese people. The non-human mammalian animal model for type 2 diabetes according to the present invention is deficient in a function of Cdkal1 gene on the chromosome of the ? cell of the pancreas.