Obesity gene’s transmission line to control eating revealed in mice studies & research finding’s
Researchers believe they have identified why a mutation in a particular gene can lead to obesity. Mouse experiments suggested the body’s message to “stop eating” was blocked if the animals had the mutation.
The study, published in Nature Medicine, said the brain’s response to appetite hormones was being disrupted.
Scientists will now be looking at whether the faulty transmission line can be modified, to help prevent and treat obesity,
The Georgetown University Medical Center researchers hope their findings could lead to new ways to control weight.
The Georgetown University Medical Center researchers hope their findings could lead to new ways to control weight.
Many genes have been linked to obesity, one of them – brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene – has been shown to play a role in putting on weight in animal and some human studies.
However, scientists at the Georgetown University Medical Center said the explanation for this link was unknown.
Overeating: In studies on mice which had been genetically modified to have the mutation, the mice consumed up to 80% more food than normal.
After a meal, hormones such as insulin and leptin should tell the brain that the body is full and should stop eating. The researchers showed that in the mutated mice the message was not being passed on from the hormones in the blood to the correct part of the brain.
One of the researchers Prof Baoji Xu said: “If there is a problem with the BDNF gene, neurons can’t talk to each other, and the leptin and insulin signals are ineffective, and appetite is not modified.”
He said the discovery “may open up novel strategies to help the brain control body weight” such as finding a “drug that can stimulate BDNF expression”.
Prof Sadaf Farooqi, who studies the relationship between genes and obesity at the University of Cambridge, told the BBC: “Genes have a surprisingly large role, it’s often underestimated. Between 40 and 70% of the difference in weight between two individuals is due to genetics.”
She said completely disrupting the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene had been shown to lead to severe obesity. However, she cautioned that the study was “entirely in mice” and the mutation was “very rare” in people.
Sligo Motorcyclist 32 years old killed in crash after taking part in St Patrick’s Day parade
A motorcyclist who took part in a St Patrick’s Day parade died when his bike went out of control while he was travelling to another parade on Saturday. He was named yesterday as John Lynagh (32), an unemployed plasterer, of Culleens, Co Sligo.
The single man was with a group of bikers in the Enniscrone St Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday and was on his way to join another one in Dromore West when he crashed in Easkey above left.
Gardaí said there was no other vehicle involved.
In Co Kilkenny, Fr Edward Murphy (59), who was based at Cambridge in England, was killed when his car collided with a tractor and trailer last Friday.
The incident took place on the M9 motorway at about 3.30pm. Fr Murphy was the driver and only occupant of the car. He was removed to Waterford Regional Hospital where a postmortem examination was to be carried out.
Hair today, gone after six years Declan’s cut-above in charity bid
We all have heard the jibe about someone who still has their First Holy Communion money. Well now meet the man who hung on to his Confirmation hair for six years.
Declan Feehily (18) hadn’t had his locks chopped since he was 12. And he had no intention of getting rid of his three-foot-long ponytail until he met little Adam Kennedy (7).
Adam, from Skreen, Co Sligo, was born with achondroplasia (dwarfism) and also suffers from seizures. A trust fund has been set up to help him by friends of his parents Noel and Valerie Kennedy.
“My mum has raised money for Adam by driving a motorbike from Malin Head to Mizen Head and I now know Adam, who is a great lad,” said Declan.
“I just had to do something to help and couldn’t think of anything and I though getting my hair cut might raise some money.
“I don’t know why really but I just never got it cut after my Confirmation, but it’s gone now and so far I have raised more than €2,000.”
A second charity also benefited — Adam’s pony-tail was donated to the Rapunzel Foundation who sent it to New Zealand to be turned into wigs for children with cancer.
After his appointment with hairdresser Siobhan Hooper from the ‘A Cut Above’ salon in Dromahair, Co Leitrim, Declan has been causing a bit of confusion at Summerhill College in Sligo where he’s a Leaving Cert student.
“It was very funny when I went back into school. No-one recognised me.”
You can donate to the Adam Kennedy Trust via: Bank of Ireland, account number 69502500, sort code 90 54 40,
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