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Protein treatment for obesity/diabetes

Protein treatment for obesity/diabetes

PTP1B is a protein that alters the body's ability to handle fat and sugar. Scientists now opine that if a method could be discovered to block the synthesis of this protein it would be a breakthrough in the treatment of both diabetes and obesity. Genetically engineered mice that lack the protein are able to eat a high-fat diet and yet stay lean. The protein, or protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPIB), joins a list of proteins and enzymes in mice that are associated with obesity. Researchers from Harvard University genetically engineered mice to deplete them of the PTP1B protein. The protein acts both on insulin and the hormone leptin which is secreted by fat cells and is strongly linked to obesity. The mice that lacked PTP1B, including those that had just one of the two copies of the production-controlling gene, were hypersensitive to insulin. Contrary to expectations, however, the mice were surprisingly lean. It seems that with a gene missing the body's sensitivity to insulin and leptin increases. In other words the two hormones work more efficiently in smaller amounts. As obesity and diabetes are major issues of concern at present many biotech firms and reputed pharmaceutical companies are pursuing research in these fields. If a way can be found to block this protein in humans it may just provide a long sought after breakthrough in the treatment of both obesity and diabetes.
Developmental Cell April 2002, Vol. 2(4)
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