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ADDRESSING
VITAMIN D
DEFICIENCY
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Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered a novel genetic
cause of severe obesity which, although relatively rare, demonstrates for the first time
that genes can reduce basal metabolic rate (how the body burns calories). Previous
studies demonstrated that when the gene KSR2 (Kinase Suppressor of Ras 2) was
deleted in mice, the animals became severely obese.
As a result of this research, Professor Sadaf Farooqi from the University of
Cambridge's Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science explored whether
KSR2 mutations might also lead to obesity in humans. In collaboration with Dr Ines
Barroso's team at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, the researchers sequenced
the DNA from over 2,000 severely obese patients and identified multiple mutations in
the KSR2 gene. The research was published in the journal Cell.
KSR2 belongs to a group of proteins called scaffolding proteins which play a critical
role in ensuring that signals from hormones such as insulin are correctly processed by
cells in the body to regulate how cells grow, divide and use energy. To investigate how
KSR2 mutations might lead to obesity, Professor Farooqi's team performed a series of
experiments which showed that many of the mutations disrupt these cellular signals
and, importantly, reduce the ability of cells to use glucose and fatty acids.
Changes in diet and levels of physical activity underlie the recent increase in
obesity in the UK and worldwide. However, there is a lot of variation in how much
weight people gain. This variation between people is largely influenced by genetic
factors, and many of the genes involved act in the brain. The discovery of a new
obesity gene, KSR2, adds another level of complexity to the body's mechanisms for
regulating weight. The Cambridge team is continuing to study the genetic factors
influencing obesity, findings which they hope to translate into beneficial therapies in
the future.
Professor Farooqi's research was funded by the Wellcome Trust.
GENETIC CAUSE TO OBESITY
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IN THE NEWS
www.loveursoulwellbeing.com A couple of intriguing news items caught our attention. Could
the infamous Prescott Punch have been down to dodgy
blood sugars? Read more here. And there may be the chance
of a breathylyzer to test our glucose levels. Read more here.
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