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'Master switch' for obesity found, raises hope for diabetes cure
Scientists have found that a gene linked to diabetes and cholesterol is a "master switch" that controls other genes found in fat in the body, and say it should help in the search for treatments for obesity-related diseases.
In a study published in the journal Nature Genetics, the British researchers said that since fat plays an important role in peoples' susceptibility to metabolic diseases like obesity, heart disease and diabetes , the regulating gene could be target for drugs to treat such illnesses.
"This is the first major study that shows how small changes in a master regulator gene can cause a cascade of other metabolic effects in other genes," said Tim Spector of King's College London, who led the study.
Spector's team analyzed 20,000 genes in fat samples taken from under the skin of 800 female twin volunteers. They found a link between a gene called KLF14 and the levels of many other genes found in fat tissue, showing that KLF14 acts as a master switch to control these genes.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
In a study published in the journal Nature Genetics, the British researchers said that since fat plays an important role in peoples' susceptibility to metabolic diseases like obesity, heart disease and diabetes , the regulating gene could be target for drugs to treat such illnesses.
"This is the first major study that shows how small changes in a master regulator gene can cause a cascade of other metabolic effects in other genes," said Tim Spector of King's College London, who led the study.
Spector's team analyzed 20,000 genes in fat samples taken from under the skin of 800 female twin volunteers. They found a link between a gene called KLF14 and the levels of many other genes found in fat tissue, showing that KLF14 acts as a master switch to control these genes.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com