molecular research news from FierceBioResearcher

A research team at Hebrew University on Jerusalem has developed a drug that mimics the activity of the hormone aMSH, which spurs the feeling of fullness. The hormone binds to a receptor in the brain that sends out the signal to the body that it is full. The researchers, led by a grad student, developed a synthetic peptide called BL-3020 that was able to enter the bloodstream, make its way to the receptor and emit the 'full' signal. Testing the therapy on mice over 24 hours, researchers …

A new study in mice raises the possibility that humans may one day be able to eat any kind of fat they want without raising their risk of heart disease. The study involved deleting a gene in the mice that causes production of ACAT2, an enzyme that alters the molecular structure of cholesterol so that it can be transported to the body's cells.

"We deleted an enzyme in mice and they could eat any type of fat and not get heart disease," said Lawrence Rudel, Ph.D., a professor of …

Ronald M. Evans, an investigator at The Salk Institute in San Diego, has developed a drug that switches on the PPAR-d gene in mice, protecting them against weight gain from high-calorie and high-fat diets. The drug--which mimics fat--triggers their metabolisms and generates a physical response similar to exercising. After treatment, the mice had lower levels of fatty acids, triglyceride and sugar levels. These mice also exhibited much greater stamina, allowing them to exercise twice as …

Scientists at Oxford and the University of Exeter say that a variant of the FTO gene that is carried by 16 percent of white Europeans made them 70 percent more likely to be obese than those with an alternative variant. Everyone is born is with two copies of the FTO gene, but there are two variants that are inherited. The group at the highest risk was on average 3 kg heavier than the low-risk group, and they carried 15 percent more body weight rather than muscle. The discovery is likely to …

Obese people have large concentrations of bacteria called Firmicutes in their gut, which are very efficient when it comes to extracting calories from food. And researchers say that the bacteria helps explain why some people are quick to gain weight and why it is harder for the obese to lose weight. By transferring Firmicutes from the guts of fat mice to lean mice, researchers reported, the lean mice gained weight. That suggests that finding ways to control Firmicutes may offer a new …