A study finds that the PM20D1 gene, which is known from mouse studies to play a role in energy storage and expenditure, is regulated in adipocyte samples from 26 people by 2 types of genetic variants: one variant that acts as an on/off switch that correlates with PM20D1 expression across all tissues, and another variant that acts analogous to a dimmer switch, adjusting PM20D1 expression in fat cells; the results suggest that genetic variation in regulation of PM20D1 is associated with obesity, according to the authors.
Article #19-13199: "Natural human genetic variation determines basal and inducible expression of PM20D1, an obesity-associated gene," by Kiara K. Benson et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Raymond E. Soccio, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; e-mail: soccio@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences