Abstract
Abrupt the aggregation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), a 37 amino acid hormone, is an expected molecular cause of type 2 diabetes (T2D), a severe pathology that affects more than 30 million Americans. During the past decade, a significant increase in T2D was observed in children, teens, and young adults. Although this increase is associated with changes in nutrition and lifestyle, its origin remains unclear. Our results indicate that fatty acids often used as food supplements drastically accelerate IAPP aggregation and increase the cytotoxicity of IAPP aggregates. Using C. elegans that overexpress IAPP as a model system, we show that an increase in the amount of fatty acids in nematode diets drastically shortens their lifespan. These results indicate that fatty acids present in the diet can accelerate the onset and progression of T2D.