Researchers discover gene mutation thought to control energy levelsSeptember 19, 2007This study focused on the gene for AMPK (adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase), which controls the amount of energy in our cells by becoming active when fuel stores start to deplete, such as during exercise. The mutation discovered in individuals from two unrelated families caused a doubling of AMPK activity in muscle during rest, mimicking a state of exercise. The uOttawa research team led by Drs Mary-Ellen Harper, Robert Dent and Ruth McPherson, in collaboration with researchers in Berkeley California, also found that the mutation produces a decrease in the storage in muscle of fat and an increase in muscle glycogen. The discovery has implications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as high levels of fat stored in the muscle have been linked to insulin resistance. In addition, as metformin, a drug commonly used to both prevent and treat diabetes, acts by increasing AMPK activity, this discovery provides valuable information for pharmaceutical research. The findings will also be of great interest to exercise physiologists, as increased muscle glycogen enhances a person's capacity for endurance exercise (e.g., marathon running). Public Library of Science | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Related Exercise Current Events and Exercise News Articles A Simple Blood Test for Colon Cancer People are often reluctant to undergo a routine but painful colonoscopy ― but the consequences can be fatal. According to the American Cancer Society, colon cancer is the third most common cancer found in American men and women and kills about 50,000 Americans every year. Track your fitness, environmental impact with new cell phone applications Planning on gobbling a few extra treats this holiday season? Soon, your cell phone may be able to help you maintain your exercise routine and keep the pounds off over winter months, without your having to lift a finger to keep track. Home-based diet and exercise intervention improves elderly cancer survivors' physical function A home-based program to improve exercise and diet led to significant, clinically meaningful improvement in body weight and physical function among older long-term cancer survivors in preliminary findings from the RENEW (Reach-out to ENhancE Wellness) trial. Science teams at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory identify 13 new tumor-suppressor genes in liver cancer Over the years, hunting for cancer-related genes and understanding how they work has been an important, although time-consuming, exercise. At Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), five different research groups have now combined their expertise to speed up the rate of discovering cancer-related genes and validating their function in living animals. How often will you use that treadmill? Why not buy that treadmill? You'll be exercising every day, right? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research examines why our expectations of our behavior so often don't match reality. Physical activity after bariatric surgery improves weight loss, quality of life A new study by researchers from The Miriam Hospital's Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine suggests increased physical activity after bariatric surgery can yield better postoperative outcomes. Exercise increases brain growth factor and receptors, prevents stem cell drop in middle age A new study confirms that exercise can reverse the age-related decline in the production of neural stem cells in the hippocampus of the mouse brain, and suggests that this happens because exercise restores a brain chemical which promotes the production and maturation of new stem cells. UNC study: text messaging may help children fight off obesity A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests that cell phone text messaging could be used to reduce children's chances of becoming overweight or obese later in life, by helping them monitor and modify their own behaviors now. Brisk walk could help chocoholics stop snacking Researchers at the University of Exeter have found that a walk of just fifteen minutes can reduce chocolate cravings. The benefits of exercise in helping people manage dependencies on nicotine and other drugs have previously been recognised. Now, for the first time, newly-published research shows that the same may be true for food cravings. MSU researcher studies ties between cholesterol drugs, muscle problems A Michigan State University researcher is studying whether the most popular class of cholesterol-lowering drugs may cause muscle problems in users. More Exercise Current Events and Exercise News Articles |
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