Researchers discover 'fat switch'
As unhealthy trends in obesity continue to rise in America, scientists are developing new ways to approach this problem, including the creation of new drugs that may one day be sold through a Canadian pharmacy.
As unhealthy trends in obesity continue to rise in America, scientists are developing new ways to approach this problem, including the creation of new drugs that may one day be sold through a Canadian pharmacy. Researchers from the UK have discovered how an enzyme that is central to the metabolism of fat is regulated, which can provide scientists with a potential drug target.
The enzyme Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1) regulates the breakdown of fatty acids in the liver, according to scientists from Warwick Medical School. In their new research, the study team discovered that CPT1 has a regulatory "switch," and that the switch's position is dependent on the composition and curvature of cell membranes, as published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
"Knowing that the CPT1 enzyme can switch and what controls it will ultimately lead to a better understanding of why some people appear to have a speedy metabolism and others struggle to curb their appetite," said researcher Victor Zammit.
Having this switch as a drug target will help scientists develop a range of drugs to treat metabolic disorders, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, the researchers added.
More than two-thirds of Americans aged 20 years and older are overweight or obese, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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