Articles tagged with Metabolism
A new clinical trial found that feeding blueberries to infants as their first solid food can reduce allergy symptoms and support long-term health. The study suggests early introduction of blueberries may improve infants' immune systems and gut health.
Researchers discovered a new reductive uric acid pathway that functions without oxygen, which builds upon current knowledge of uric acid degradation. The study found that this pathway produces a metabolite called yanthine, which is elevated in patients with gout and could serve as a biomarker for diagnosing or monitoring the condition.
Dr. Steven B. Heymsfield joins an elite group of scholars recognized for advancing knowledge and transforming their fields. He has authored over 1,300 scientific publications with nearly 79,000 citations, placing him among the top 500 most-cited researchers globally.
A new study published in Nutrients found that both whole and refined grain foods can contribute to improved dietary patterns and health. The study analyzed data from over 14,000 Americans and identified healthy grain foods based on nutrient density, fiber, protein, and essential nutrients.
A new study from North Carolina State University reveals that not all dietary proteins are digested the same way. The research found that specific proteins from different sources, such as soy and egg white, can be resistant to host digestion and interact with the gut microbiota in the large intestine.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover a new microprotein, SLC35A4-MP, that regulates mitochondrial structure and function in brown fat tissue. The study reveals the microprotein's role in maintaining healthy cellular metabolism and regulating body temperature.
Researchers at UCL successfully chemically linked amino acids to RNA under conditions that could have occurred on early Earth, a significant step towards understanding the origin of protein synthesis. The study demonstrates how RNA might have first come to control protein synthesis.
Researchers found that AUF1 helps prevent aging by breaking down enzymes involved in glucose metabolism. The study's findings improve our understanding of how metabolism affects the aging process.
Researchers discovered that smoking produces metabolites that encourage mouth bacteria to grow in the large intestines, triggering an immune response. These bacteria, specifically Streptococcus mitis, help reduce inflammation in ulcerative colitis by triggering a specific immune response.
Researchers found that measures of glycemic control were more closely linked to changes in food preferences than body weight status. Participants who had fasting glucose and HbA1C at the high end of normal were less likely to prefer flavors paired with nutrients, even if they had a healthy BMI.
Girls who go through puberty before age 11 have double the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and obesity, while women who give birth before 21 have quadruple the risk. Later puberty and childbirth are associated with longer lifespan, lower frailty, and reduced disease risk.
The study demonstrates that modulating the vagus nerve can effectively halt the progression of cachexia, enhance chemotherapy outcomes, and improve survival in preclinical models. This intervention restores normal liver metabolism, reduces systemic inflammation, and alleviates cachectic symptoms.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified dozens of microproteins that play a crucial role in regulating fat cell proliferation and lipid accumulation. This breakthrough discovery offers new potential drug targets for treating obesity and metabolic disorders, building on recent advances in CRISPR gene editing technologies.
Researchers have discovered that glucose aids in T cells' internal communication and boosts their cancer-fighting abilities. T cells allocate significant portions of glucose to build glycosphingolipids, essential for protein production and lipid raft formation, which enhances cell signaling and tumor control.
Researchers have discovered that dialing down sugar metabolism can break down neural integrity, but manipulating this process can also activate protective programs in neurons. Two proteins, DLK and SARM1, are involved in extending axon health, with their activity influenced by the cell's internal conditions.
Researchers discovered hibernator-specific DNA regions near the FTO locus that regulate metabolism, allowing hibernators to pack on fat reserves before hibernation. These findings could lead to treatments for human metabolic disorders by tuning up or down gene activity like an orchestra conductor fine-tunes music volume.
A study analyzing 249 individuals reveals disrupted interactions between the gut microbiome, immune system, and metabolism in ME/CFS patients. Biomarkers linked to symptoms such as sleep disturbances, headaches, and fatigue provide hope for future diagnostic tools.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys found that blocking macropinocytosis reshapes the tumor microenvironment, allowing more access to immune cells. This change made immunotherapy and chemotherapy more effective in treating PDAC tumors in mice.
Researchers discovered that Caenorhabditis elegans uses both classical secretory pathways and recycling endosomes to secrete vitellogenins. This study provides a comprehensive model of yolk protein secretion, integrating classic secretion with membrane recycling pathways.
A recent study reveals that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role in activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) under energy stress conditions. This process involves the S-glutathionylation of PKCζ, which facilitates its interaction with LKB1 and activation of AMPK.
Researchers at Duke University School of Medicine have identified a new system linking the microbiome to the brain, which influences behavior and appetite. The discovery was made by detecting flagellin in gut bacteria, triggering an appetite-suppressing signal to the brain.
A recent study found that Chinese obese individuals can maintain significant weight loss even after stopping tirzepatide. The study showed an average weight loss of 8.7% to 10.6% compared to baseline, with improved cardiometabolic markers. These findings support the long-term efficacy of tirzepatide in managing obesity.
A recent study maps how metformin modulates metabolism and protein expression across different zones of the diabetic kidney, offering key insight into its molecular mechanisms and providing a new framework for region-targeted therapy in diabetic nephropathy.
Researchers have identified a key gene crucial for vitamin D uptake and metabolism, offering new avenues for precision medicine in cancer therapy and potential benefits for autoimmune diseases. Inhibiting this gene may selectively kill cancer cells while leaving healthy tissues unharmed.
A new study reveals that brown adipose tissue-derived miR-206-3p inhibits hepatic lipogenesis and promotes liver health in obese mice with MAFLD. The findings suggest that restoring miR-206-3p levels could offer a promising therapeutic approach to combat obesity-related liver diseases.
A new tool allows researchers to probe the metabolic processes of key citrus crop, clementine, to improve yields, flavor, and nutritional value. The comprehensive genome-scale model captures Citrus clementina's metabolism with exceptional accuracy, enabling simulating economically-relevant scenarios.
Researchers have charted how plant metabolism responds to genetic changes that increase oil production, finding simultaneous increases in both oil and protein content. The study's findings will provide scientists with clues for optimizing biofuel production in plants such as camelina and pennycress.
Dr. Randy J. Nelson's research reveals that artificial light exposure disrupts immune function, causes neuroinflammation, and influences mood regulation. His work has significant implications for understanding depression and anxiety disorders, as well as the obesity epidemic.
Researchers discover a novel metabolic pathway, glyoxalase system, that regulates excessive immune responses by targeting a previously underexplored metabolic pathway. The GLO2-SLG-D-lactylation pathway suppresses inflammatory signaling, reducing inflammation in acute and autoimmune disease settings.
A new study from the Buck Institute has uncovered how breaking down glycogen in neurons may protect against toxic protein buildup and degeneration. Researchers found that restoring an enzyme called glycogen phosphorylase can reduce tau-related damage and improve oxidative stress reduction.
A study reveals that ribonuclease 4, derived from pancreatic islet β cells, promotes β cell proliferation and blood glucose homeostasis regulation. Rnase4 supplementation reverses β cell disorders triggered by genetic defects or chemical damage.
Scientists have found a way to simulate metabolic processes in the absence of cell membranes using heat flow across thin, water-filled pores. This breakthrough provides new insights into the origin of life and offers approaches to biotechnology for creating synthetic living entities.
Researchers analyzed single-cell transcriptomes from early, middle, and late stages of AD to identify subtle shifts in cellular activity. They found that mitochondria in vulnerable brain areas began to fail early in the disease, even before amyloid plaque buildup. The study also identified a gene called MEG3 involved in regulating mito...
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have identified the REDD2 gene, which is activated by metabolic stress and damages pancreatic β-cells, leading to reduced insulin secretion and the onset of diabetes. Suppressing REDD2 expression protects β-cells from damage, even under stress from overeating, preventing the onset of diabetes.
Researchers used time-restricted feeding to restore microbial rhythms in mice fed a high-fat diet, identifying bile salt hydrolase as a key enzyme protecting metabolic health. Engineered gut bacteria showed improved glucose control and reduced body fat in mice, suggesting potential targeted therapies for obesity and diabetes.
The University of Gothenburg, AstraZeneca, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and Region Västra Götaland are partnering to tackle metabolic disorders. The SEK 200 million initiative aims to deepen understanding of obesity's mechanisms and develop effective treatments.
Researchers from Rutgers University have identified complementary brain circuits that control hunger and satiety. The studies suggest refining current weight-loss drugs and developing new therapies targeting specific pathways.
UC San Diego researchers have identified hundreds of new N-acyl lipids involved in immune and stress responses, shedding light on the biochemical language of cells. These findings suggest a potential link between the gut microbiome and neurological function, particularly in individuals with HIV.
Researchers have discovered a novel cell-clearance pathway linked to diseases such as Chediak-Higashi Syndrome, which affects immune system function. The study used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology and live imaging to characterize this pathway and identify key genes involved.
Creatine has broad health benefits beyond athletic performance, including maintaining energy in stressed cells and preventing muscle loss with aging. Studies have shown no significant side effects from creatine supplementation, contradicting common misconceptions.
Researchers found that amino acids can actively promote RNA polymerization under mild, prebiotic conditions, increasing formation by up to 100-fold. This process is driven by acid-base catalysis, enabling the shuttle of protons in the reaction. The study suggests a mutual dependence between RNA and amino acids, reshaping our understand...
Researchers at University of California San Diego discover itaconate stimulates seedling development, enhancing crop growth and potentially offering a sustainable solution for increasing food production. The study provides new insights into the molecule's role in plant physiology and its connections to animal biology.
Researchers identified biomarkers like uric acid and bile acids as critical regulators of arterial stiffness and inflammation in adolescents with obesity. These findings provide new avenues for early intervention to prevent the progression of vascular stiffness and cardiovascular disease.
Scientists have uncovered fast chemical reactions in living cells that may protect against cell damage. These reactions involve the amino acid cysteine and could lead to new anti-aging strategies.
A new study found that eating two servings of mangos daily for two weeks significantly reduced blood pressure and cholesterol in healthy postmenopausal women. The study also showed measurable improvements in key heart health markers, including a reduction in total cholesterol by nearly 13 points.
Researchers at Weizmann Institute of Science discovered that nerve cells can sense mechanical forces in fat tissue, regulating brown fat activity and influencing energy balance. Mice lacking this sensing ability were resistant to obesity and metabolic conditions.
A global study by UniSA researchers found that 94% of people who use wearable activity trackers are open to sharing their health information with healthcare providers. This could lead to more personalized and responsive care. The demand for personalized healthcare is on the rise, and wearable activity tracker market is increasing.
Researchers found that texture-derived differences in meal eating rate influence energy intake from ultra-processed foods. Participants consuming a diet with slower textures had an average energy intake reduction of 369 kcal per day. The study's findings highlight the importance of food texture in guiding eating rate and intake.
Researchers resolved a longstanding question in cellular biology by determining the high-resolution cryo-EM structure of the human MON1A-CCZ1-RAB7A complex. This study provides insights into the activation mechanism of RAB7A, facilitating autophagosome-lysosome fusion and cargo degradation.
Researchers discovered biomarkers in gut bacteria and metabolites that can help diagnose and treat gastrointestinal diseases. The study found that certain biomarkers could predict multiple diseases, including gastric cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
A recent study found that individuals with a specific type of gut bacteria (Firmicutes) had higher bone mineral density and better metabolic health. The researchers suggest that promoting the growth of butyrate-producing bacteria could be an effective strategy for maintaining bone mass and preventing osteoporosis.
Researchers at UCSF have successfully engineered a shapeshifting protein that can change shape in response to signals, potentially leading to breakthroughs in medicine, agriculture, and environmental applications. This achievement marks the first step towards creating stable yet dynamic proteins using AI-augmented protein engineering.
Roundworm C. elegans avoids deceased conspecifics due to olfactory cues from metabolites AMP and histidine, leading to reduced fitness and increased egg laying. The detection of these signals may be an evolutionarily maintained mechanism for detecting cellular death.
Researchers have uncovered the mechanism by which ATP enters the endoplasmic reticulum, a process crucial for cellular function. The study reveals SLC35B1 as the key transporter protein, providing a promising target for therapeutic intervention.
A new study reveals that Aspergillus fumigatus infection can unbalance the lungs by creating a microaerophilic niche for bacteria like Ligilactobacillus murinus. This interaction may influence disease progression and enable new treatment approaches, highlighting the importance of understanding the gut-lung axis.
A genetic variant of ACSF3 has been identified as contributing to the co-evolution of increased human height and basal metabolic rate. This variant is found in humans but not in non-human primates, suggesting a link to the dietary shift towards meat consumption that occurred during modern human evolution.
Researchers identified poly-metabolite scores in blood and urine associated with ultra-processed food consumption, providing an objective measure of UPF intake. The study found hundreds of metabolites linked to energy from UPFs, enabling the creation of a score predictive of diet quality.
Researchers discovered that Chd1 induces two conformations of exit DNA and inhibits its activity when the DNA is unwrapped. The mechanism involves a positively charged motif in Chd1, known as the exit-DNA-binding loop (EDBL), which binds to unwrapped exit DNA, acting as a molecular brake.
A study published in Cell Metabolism finds that a combination of gut bacteria and acetate reduces obesity in mice. The researchers discovered that the specific combination of Bacteroides species and acetate leads to increased fat burning and reduced sugar storage, resulting in weight loss.
Researchers at Zhejiang University discovered that Baf60c regulates fat tissue thermogenesis via Musclin signals. By controlling Musclin gene expression, Baf60c influences energy balance, reducing obesity risk.