Shearer, JaneBelke, DarrellMyslicki, Jason2014-05-162014-06-162014-05-162014http://hdl.handle.net/11023/1526The purpose of this study was to explore the sensitivity of O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) in relation to various anthropometric and metabolic markers in healthy young adults and then to investigate how a chronic exercise regime affects this important post-translation signalling pathway in a Type II diabetic (T2DM) mouse model. Whole blood was collected from clinically healthy young adult males (n=24) and cardiac tissue was collected from diabetic (db/db) and control (db+) mice (n=9-10/group) that underwent six weeks of exercise or were designated sedentary. Western blot analysis was performed on all samples. Human whole blood exhibited greater sensitivity to Homeostatic Model of Assessment – Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) than Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) demonstrating its potential utility as a screening tool with strong diagnostic value. Six weeks of running wheel exercise did not alter protein O-GlcNAcylation in db/db or db+ mice. Protein O-GlcNAcylation is a valuable tool in assessing the efficacy of exercise in preventing T2DM.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.PhysiologyO-GlcNAcType II Diabetes MellitusInsulin ResistanceExercisepost translational protein modificationmaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/26098