Master fat gene found
Monday May 16th, 2011
British researchers have found a master gene for fat in the body - linked to diabetes and high cholesterol, it was announced last night.
The
gene was found to be linked to diabetes and high cholesterol some time
ago - but the latest findings show that in fact it controls the activity
of fat.
The researchers have found the gene, KLF14, controls genes in fat cells linked to levels of obesity, cholesterol, insulin and glucose.
And the gene is inherited from the mother, according to the researchers at King's College, London, UK, Oxford University, UK, and the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
The findings come from a study of more than 20,000 genes from samples from 800 female twins.
Professor Mark McCarthy, of the University of Oxford, said: "KLF14 seems to act as a master switch controlling processes that connect changes in the behaviour of subcutaneous fat to disturbances in muscle and liver that contribute to diabetes and other conditions.
"We are working hard right now to understand these processes and how we can use this information to improve treatment of these conditions."
Fellow researcher Professor Tim Spector, of King's College, said: "This is the first major study that shows how small changes in one master regulator gene can cause a cascade of other metabolic effects in other genes."
Nature Genetics May 15 2011
Tags: Diabetes | Europe | Genetics | Heart Health | UK News
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