Copenhagen, Apr 24 (IANS): Scientists have linked diabetes and poor growth to a protein involved in hormone regulation, says a study.

A group of researchers from the University of Copenhagen studied the reasons for diabetes and growth hormone deficiency. Their new discoveries centre on the body's ability to regulate certain hormones. Their findings have been published in the scientific journal PLOS Biology.

Some people suffering from diabetes or affected by poor growth most likely have problems with the so-called PICK1 protein, that plays a decisive role in the formation of growth hormones and insulin in the human body, reports Science Daily.

"We have studied the role played by PICK1 when the growth hormone is released by the brain and insulin by the pancreas. Our experiments show that PICK1 deficiency leads to growth hormone and insulin deficiency in both fruit flies and mice," said professor Ulrik Gether from the Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen.

"In mice, we can clearly see that the animals become small and fat and less tolerant to sugar when deficient in PICK1... The same is true for humans," added Gether, who made the discoveries with his research colleagues Ole Kjaerulff, Birgitte Holst and Kenneth Madsen.