I eat what I want and lose weight

Scientists have identified a gene blocking the work of which allows mice not to gain excess weight, even while on a very fatty diet, RIA Novosti reports. If a similar gene has the same effect in humans, it can be used for therapeutic purposes to prevent obesity and related diseases, the authors of the study, published Thursday in the journal Cell, are confident.

"We have been studying obesity-related genes for a long time, but for the first time we were able to detect a gene whose removal leads to a complete stop in the process of gaining excess weight in mice. The fact that the removal of just one gene allows you to completely eliminate all the side effects of eating fatty foods is very unexpected," said lead author of the study Alan Saltiel (Alan Saltiel) from the University of Michigan.

Scientists have shown that blocking a gene called IKKE in the body of mice not only prevents the animals from gaining excess weight, but also protects them from chronic inflammatory processes associated with obesity, fatty liver dystrophy and insulin immunity – symptoms leading to the development of type 2 diabetes.

The IKKE gene is responsible for protein synthesis from the kinase class. IKKE kinase is an enzyme that slows down the work of other protein molecules in the body of mice responsible for the metabolic process. When mice receive fatty foods, the activity of the IKKE gene increases, which leads to a slowdown in metabolism in the body and weight gain.

In the group of transgenic mice deprived of this gene, there is no slowing down of calorie burning processes when eating fatty foods, which allows the mice to maintain normal body weight. Scientists have noted that in this case, the rapid processing of high-calorie fatty foods leads to some increase in the body weight of animals.

Currently, Saltiel's group is searching for molecules that can slow down the work of the IKKE protein in a normal body. Such molecules, called inhibitors, could become the main components of anti-obesity drugs. In addition, scientists have yet to test how the studied patterns are valid for people.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru04.09.2009