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Fat Gene Found

March 20, 2006 Rutgers – the State University of New Jersey

The gene, which is responsible for the appearance and development of human obesity, is found and identified by the group of researchers from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. The scientists have finally found a specific gene, as well as the actual mechanism of molecules interaction that leads to obesity - disease, which has already reached the epidemic level in certain countries of the world.

According to the research results, it is a human protein enzyme, called lipin, which plays the leading role in regulating the amount of fat in human body and in controlling the metabolism of fats.

The first revelation on the way to understand the mechanism of obesity development was the discovery that lipin is a protein catalyst (an accelerator of chemical reactions), which participates actively in the formation of fats in the organism. Consequently, decreased amount of lipin results in the loss of body fat, whereas the excess of this enzyme increases the amount of fat.

In fact, scientists knew that lipin is a key to understanding the obesity on the molecular level, but they did not know how exactly this key works. The researchers found the answers to their questions, experimenting with ordinary baker’s yeast. Working with this simple single cell organism, the research team found the whole pathway from the obesity-responsible enzyme to the gene, controlling its appearance and development. The public interest to this discovery is focused around the suggestion that the results of this research may start a new direction in developing new medications to control lipin activity and thus, treat the obesity. By the way, the discovery looks promising not only in managing the excessive body weight, but also in treating patients with HIV, who suffer from the loss of fat beneath the skin.

The research was funded by the National Institute of Health; Jean Chin, the NIH representative estimated the results as follows: “These findings are of major importance to the AIDS community as well as to those concerned with the obesity epidemic.”

In conclusion it is worthy to note that while the scientists move forward in developing new ways to treat obesity, many millions of people, suffering from excessive body weight, seek for medications that are available at present.

For the time being, Xenical is the only oral pill, approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the USA as the obesity treatment, which helps people reduce body fat not by suppressing their appetite, but working directly in the digestive system and preventing fats from absorbing into the human organism.

Nick

External resources
http://ur.rutgers.edu/medrel/viewArticle.html?ArticleID=5045