Breakthrough in Obesity StudyA molecular switch that controls the formation of fat cells has been discovered in mice.The breakthrough could pave the way for future development of drugs to control obesity. Scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School in the U.S. have discovered that when the switch is on fat cells do not develop. However, when the switch is off even would-be muscle cells turns to fat. The "switch" is made up of a type of protein known as a Wnt. Wnts exist in all types of animals, and are known to regulate the changes that take place in the developing embryo in the womb. However, the University of Michigan study is the first to identify the importance of Wnts in the formation of fat cells. Lead researcher Dr Ormond MacDougald said: "Understanding this developmental pathway could help scientists learn how and why obesity develops." The researchers worked on two types of mouse cells - immature muscle cells called myoblasts and immature fat cells called preadipocytes. In the absence of Wnt, both cell types consistently turned into fat cells. |
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