Abstract: The present invention provides polypeptides which are predominately expressed in visceral adipose tissue which can be used as markers for the measurement of the levels of visceral adipose tissue in a subject. The invention also provides methods for the measurement of the levels of visceral adipose tissue by obtaining a biological sample and detecting and/or measuring the increase of one or more polypeptides as disclosed herein. Screening methods relating to agonists and antagonists of the specific polypeptides disclosed herein are provided. Antibodies may also be raised against these polypeptide markers for the detection and/or treatment of metabolic syndrome related comorbidities.

Abstract: The present invention provides polypeptides which are correlated with pre-diabetes, diabetes or susceptibility to diabetes which can be used as markers for diagnosis of pre-diabetes, diabetes or a susceptibility or predisposition to develop diabetes. The invention also provides methods for the diagnosis of pre-diabetes, diabetes and/or the susceptibility to diabetes by obtaining a biological sample and detecting and/or measuring the increase of one or more polypeptides as disclosed herein. Screening methods relating to agonists and antagonists of the specific polypeptides disclosed herein are provided. Antibodies may also be raised against these polypeptide markers for the detection and/or treatment of diabetes. Proteins, protein fragments or peptides can be used for the treatment of diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods for measuring the activity of glutamine:fructose 6-phosphate amidotransferase which comprise the steps of (a) forming a mixture of glutamine:fructose 6-phosphate amidotransferase, fructose 6-phosphate, and glutamine; (b) incubating the mixture under physiological conditions to allow the formation of glucosamine 6-phosphate; (c) acetylating the glucosamine 6-phosphate to form N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate; (d) reacting the N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate with Ehrlich's reagent; and (e) measuring the amount of N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate by determining the optical density at 500-610 nm of the mixture and comparing the amount of N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate with control samples. The present invention also pertains to methods for measuring the inhibitory activity of a test compound on glutamine:fructose 6-phosphate amidotransferase.