Scientists discover a protein switch that burns fat and blocks new fat cells
Key takeaways
- Modern weight loss medications have transformed obesity treatment, helping many people lose significant amounts of weight.
- Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science have identified a protein called MTCH2, nicknamed "Mitch," that appears to play a major role in how cells manage energy and store fat.
- The findings build on earlier research in mice that produced a surprising result.
Why this matters: new research or scientific developments with potential real-world impact.
Modern weight loss medications have transformed obesity treatment, helping many people lose significant amounts of weight. But these drugs often come with an important drawback: They can also reduce muscle mass. Now, researchers have uncovered a biological mechanism that may one day help address that challenge while also boosting the body's ability to burn fat.
Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science have identified a protein called MTCH2, nicknamed "Mitch," that appears to play a major role in how cells manage energy and store fat. In a recent study published in the EMBO Journal, the team found that disabling this protein in human cells increases the rate at which fats and carbohydrates are burned while also reducing the formation of new fat cells.
The findings build on earlier research in mice that produced a surprising result. Animals lacking Mitch in their muscles became more physically fit, developed greater endurance, and were remarkably resistant to obesity.