Researchers in Japan have identified a brain protein that may influence the preference for fatty foods and weight gain, offering new clues about the biological mechanisms behind overeating and obesity.
The study, led by researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University and published in the FASEB Journal, focused on optic atrophy-1 (OPA1), a protein involved in maintaining mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells.
Missing protein changed eating behaviour
Researchers examined OPA1 in neurons carrying the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), which are involved in regulating appetite, hunger and energy balance in the hypothalamus.
In experiments involving mice, animals lacking OPA1 specifically in these neurons showed a stronger preference for dietary fat than control mice. They also gained weight more rapidly and eventually developed obesity.
The effect was more pronounced in female mice, suggesting that biological sex may influence how OPA1 affects appetite and weight regulation.
Findings could shape future obesity research
The researchers found that the loss of OPA1 did not completely eliminate MC4R signalling. An anti-obesity drug capable of activating MC4R continued to reduce food intake in male mice.
However, in female mice lacking OPA1, the drug’s ability to suppress food intake was reduced. The finding points to potentially important differences in how appetite-related pathways respond to treatment.
Researchers believe the findings highlight the importance of neuronal energy metabolism in controlling dietary fat intake. They also suggest that maintaining mitochondrial function in appetite-regulating brain cells could be relevant to future approaches to obesity treatment.
Human research is still needed
The study was conducted entirely in mice, so it remains unclear whether the same mechanism operates in humans. Obesity is influenced by numerous biological, behavioural and environmental factors, and OPA1 is only one potential piece of that complex picture.
If future research confirms a similar pathway in humans, OPA1 could become a target of interest in developing more personalised approaches to managing overeating and obesity #Obesity #BrainResearch #Nutrition #FatIntake #MedicalResearch #Japan