Novel Gene Discovery Offers Potential Avenue for Obesity Treatment, Researchers Say

significant advancement in understanding obesity and related metabolic conditions has emerged from researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, potentially opening new therapeutic avenues for individuals struggling with weight management. The team’s findings, detailed in a recent publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), focus on previously overlooked microproteins that play a crucial role in fat storage within the body.

These microproteins represent “an understudied class of molecules” involved in both health and disease states, according to the research team. Using CRISPR gene editing technology, scientists systematically screened genes within fat cells to identify those likely responsible for encoding these microproteins – specifically targeting genes associated with fat cell growth and lipid accumulation. The rigorous process allowed researchers to pinpoint previously unknown factors influencing metabolic processes.

“We wanted to know if there was anything we had been missing in all these years of research into the body’s metabolic processes,” explained Victor Pai, a researcher at Salk. The identified microproteins are now considered potential targets for drug development aimed at treating obesity and other associated metabolic disorders. This discovery may offer alternative or supplementary approaches for individuals who have found limited success with conventional interventions like lifestyle modifications, bariatric surgery, or medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy.