Articles tagged with Metabolism
Scientists have discovered how a tungsten-containing enzyme in a microbe converts toxic waste gases into ethanol, offering a promising solution for sustainable fuel production. The breakthrough reveals the mechanism behind this process, enabling the production of valuable chemicals and fuels.
A study from the Champalimaud Foundation found that when fruit flies are deprived of essential amino acids, their brains upregulate two olfactory receptor genes involved in smell, leading to a refined sense of smell that guides them to protein-rich yeast and gut bacteria. This interplay between smell and taste regulates feeding behavior.
Researchers found that TRF1 protein loss led to leaner mice with altered metabolic profiles, including lower LDL cholesterol levels and improved blood sugar regulation. These benefits occurred without any detectable shortening of telomeres.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that metabolism guides the activation states of regulatory T cells, which dampen inflammation. The study reveals a link between mitochondrial function and lysosome activity in controlling these immune cells.
A new study from UC San Francisco found that saturated fat affects the behavior of a protein called PER2, which orchestrates fat metabolism and circadian rhythms. Mice eating a diet high in hydrogenated fats struggled to adapt to winter, whereas those on unsaturated fat diets adjusted easily.
Recent discoveries on the molecular regulation of cholesterol metabolism have far-reaching implications for human diseases. Four interconnected modules of cholesterol metabolism are outlined, including hepatic de novo synthesis, intestinal absorption, and reverse transport via HDL.
Researchers have discovered that HSL plays an unexpected role in the nucleus of fat cells, helping maintain healthy adipose tissue. This new understanding challenges 60 years of certainty about fat metabolism and offers avenues for better understanding metabolic diseases such as obesity.
Researchers at Redoxoma found that mitochondrial potassium channels regulate heat production in brown adipose tissue, a process critical for regulating energy expenditure and promoting metabolic health. Closing the channel is necessary for maximum thermogenesis.
Researchers found that voluntary running exercise mitigates cafeteria diet-induced behavioral changes via hormonal and microbial pathways. The study revealed specific metabolites, such as anserine and indole-3-carboxylate, were decreased by the cafeteria diet but partially restored by exercise.
A study published in Science Advances found that the ketogenic diet can have potentially dangerous impacts on metabolic health, including impaired blood sugar regulation and fatty liver disease. Mice fed the diet developed severe metabolic complications, with some changes starting within days.
Scientists worldwide are calling for accelerated development and standardization of energy metabolism measurement technologies to address global challenges. The conference highlighted the importance of understanding how organisms utilize energy, crucial for tackling climate change and public health crises.
A recent study found that fish oil supplements can lower cardiovascular disease risk even in healthy individuals, with effects varying greatly between people. The study showed that EPA supplementation improved blood lipid profiles and reduced lipoprotein attachment to arterial walls.
A new study published in PNAS found that physical activity increases total daily energy expenditure without reducing it elsewhere. The research showed a clear link between being more active and spending less time sitting still.
Research finds that Akkermansia muciniphila alleviates hepatic fibrosis through propionate-driven antioxidant defense, improving liver function and reducing extracellular matrix accumulation. The study suggests a potential microbiota-based therapeutic strategy to combat liver fibrosis.
The four-day training program equipped postdoctoral fellows with state-of-the-art methods for clinical research in obesity, metabolism and nutrition. Participants deepened their skills in gold-standard methodologies crucial for advancing clinical and translational research.
Researchers found that a combination of nicotinamide, a-lipoic acid, thiamine, pyridoxamine and piperine reduced AGEs, sticky plaque-like molecules, to curb hunger, lower insulin resistance and extend lifespan in mice. The compounds also reversed some molecular hallmarks of hypothalamic aging.
Isha Jain wins NIH Transformative Research Award to develop new targeted treatments using modern science and techniques, potentially leading to personalized vitamin-based therapies for genetic disorders. Her lab has made key discoveries on oxygen levels and tissue damage, aiming to fine-tune these processes for disease treatment.
Researchers found that specific bacteria, such as Haemophilus parainfluenzae and Fusobacterium species, are associated with AIG-related neuroendocrine tumors. The study suggests that changes in host metabolism occur before alterations in the gastric microbiota, potentially creating a microenvironment that favors tumor growth.
A new dual-imaging system simultaneously maps retinal structure and capillary oxygen levels in live mice, allowing researchers to study vision-threatening diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. This non-invasive approach offers a powerful tool for elucidating local capillary values and tracking changes in retinal oxygenation.
Researchers at UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center identify IGF2BP3 as a master switch linking cancer metabolism and RNA regulation in leukemia cells. The protein shifts energy breakdown and RNA modifications to support cell survival and multiplication.
A new study analyzing the dietary choices of wild woodrats reveals that individual diets may not be as diverse as previously assumed. The research suggests that the costs of specializing on one food source or diversifying one's diet have a strong impact on an animal's ability to survive and thrive.
Researchers develop a novel biochar-based catalyst that transforms harmful pesticide residues into ammonium nitrogen, a nutrient essential for plant growth. The approach eliminates pesticide residues from soil while boosting lettuce growth, offering a potential tool for sustainable agriculture.
Research links oral bacteria to Parkinson's disease via the gut-brain axis, finding Streptococcus mutans produces metabolite imidazole propionate that contributes to disease progression. Targeting the oral-gut microbiome may offer a new therapeutic approach for Parkinson's treatment.
Scientists discovered that metabolism plays a signalling role during embryonic development, controlling the tempo of growth. By modulating metabolism, they identified a key metabolite FBP regulating the segmentation clock, which impacts spatial patterns of body segments.
Researchers at WashU Medicine discovered a novel way brown fat burns calories and improves metabolic health by exploiting cellular parts called peroxisomes. Mice with increased peroxisome activity showed improved insulin sensitivity and weight control on high-fat diets.
A Chinese Medical Journal study reviews the association between lipid metabolism and Parkinson’s disease. The research highlights how lipid disruptions contribute to α-Syn aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation, suggesting lipids as a promising therapeutic target for PD.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.