Summary of The Breakthrough That Could Lead to New Obesity Treatments:
Scientists from the Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia have identified the molecular structure of the protein Uncoupling Protein 1, which helps burn calories in brown fat tissue, dubbed “good fat”. According to the researchers, the breakthrough presents potential solutions for the development of therapeutics to activate the protein artificially, burning excess calories and possibly helping to combat diabetes and obesity. The study was the first to disclose more about UCP1 in atomic detail, following several decades of research into the protein’s molecular composition. The scientists used a cryogenic electron microscope to view UCP1 in depth.
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Scientists Uncover Molecular Structure of Key Protein in ‘Good Fat’
Researchers at the University of East Anglia and the University of Cambridge have made a significant breakthrough in the quest to find effective treatments for obesity and diabetes. A new study published in Science Advances reveals the molecular structure of a protein known as ‘Uncoupling protein 1’ (UCP1), which is an essential component in the burning of calories in ‘good fat’ or brown fat tissue. The molecular details uncovered could lead to the development of treatments that activate UCP1 artificially to burn excess calories, giving hope to those fighting obesity and related diseases.
The Importance of Brown Fat
Unlike white fat that stores calories, brown fat tissue’s role is to burn off calories as heat. UCP1 is the key protein that allows this specialized brown fat to break down blood sugar and fat molecules and create heat to maintain body temperature. Research into brown fat and how to activate UCP1 therapeutically has gained much interest in the fight against obesity and associated diseases like diabetes.
The Challenge in Understanding UCP1
Despite decades of research, not much was known about the molecular makeup of UCP1 until now. Knowing its molecular structure provides molecular details that will be instrumental for developing treatments that activate UCP1 artificially, thus burning off excess calories and potentially helping those fighting obesity and diabetes.
The Breakthrough
The research team used the Krios G3i, a cryogenic electron microscope, to view UCP1 in atomic detail. The team discovered the structure of UCP1 in atomic detail and how its activity in brown fat cells is inhibited by a key regulatory molecule. The team found out how a regulator binds to prevent UCP1 activity and how the structure will allow scientists to understand better how to activate the protein to burn fat and remove glucose from the blood.
What This Means for the Future
The findings provide a significant milestone in the development of potential therapeutics for combatting obesity and related diseases like diabetes. Researchers now have the molecular knowledge they need to develop treatments that could activate UCP1 artificially to burn excess calories from fat and sugar.
This research was supported by the Medical Research Council, the Biological and Biotechnological Sciences Research Council, and the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Additionally, the discovery of the nanobody was funded by the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, and the Research Foundation – Flanders, and the Strategic Research Program of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
