A remarkable development may lead to an unprecedented scientific revolution, ending the suffering of many from obesity and its health-related issues. A recent scientific study has uncovered intriguing laboratory results indicating that disabling a single gene could allow individuals to indulge in their favorite foods without becoming obese. According to the journal "Natural Metabolism," experts from the University of California, San Diego, after conducting experiments on rats, found that one gene is responsible for the loss of fat cells' ability to burn energy.
Researchers discovered that when the rodents were fed a high-fat diet, their fat cells broke down and became less effective at burning fat, which may explain why obesity slows down metabolic processes in humans. They confirmed through experiments that this process is controlled by a single gene, which, when removed using gene editing, prevents the rodents from gaining excess weight even while consuming the same high-fat diet.
Upon examining the mitochondria, a double-membraned cell organelle responsible for producing the energy necessary for bodily functions and aiding in fat burning—which is associated with aging decline in function—they found it to be the key element in achieving the study's results. Additionally, researchers measured the impact of a high-fat diet on the mitochondria of rats. After consuming this diet, the mitochondria in rats shrank, becoming less effective and resulting in less fat burning, achieved through a gene called (RaIA).
The findings revealed that when this gene is overly active, it hinders the normal functioning of mitochondria, causing fat cells to burn less energy. Alan Saltiel, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego and the lead author of the study, stated, "The excess calories from overeating can lead to weight gain and also trigger a series of metabolic processes that reduce energy expenditure, worsening obesity. The gene we identified is a crucial part of this transition from healthy weight to obesity."
When people consume more calories than they burn, the capability of fat cells to burn energy begins to fail. This is one of the reasons why individuals suffering from severe obesity find it difficult to lose weight. However, how this failure of fat cells begins has been one of the biggest mysteries of obesity. Saltiel continued, "The direct comparison between the basic biology we discovered and actual clinical outcomes underscores the importance of the findings for humans and suggests that we may be able to help treat or prevent obesity by targeting the (RaIA) pathway with new treatments. We have only begun to understand this disease's complex metabolic processes, but the future possibilities are exciting."
Future treatments may include gene therapies or CRISPR technology, which scientists use to modify DNA in living organisms to eliminate (RaIA) and its effects on the body.
