Insider Blog Brain Enzyme
Posted May 13th, 2008 by adminNASA Tech Briefs INSIDER 05/13/2008
The researchers blocked the enzyme with a specialized molecule inhibitor. The mice ate less food than untreated mice during the six days in which they were evaluated, and also lost body weight. Next the researchers studied a group of mice that do not make CaMKK2 and found that the molecule inhibitor did not change feeding behavior or reduce weight. The fact that blocking CaMKK2 worked in normal mice to make them eat less, but not in mice missing the enzyme, shows that CaMKK2 signaling is a requirement for appetite control.
The Duke scientists also found that blocking CaMKK2 in the brain prevents the deposits of fat in liver and skeletal muscle that are characteristic of obese, diabetic patients. The researchers are trying to understand the mechanism responsible for this protective effect, as well as to identify more potent drugs to inhibit CaMKK2.
