A hormone that causes fat burning has been identified

Biologists at the Scripps Research Institute have determined which hormone initiates fat burning in the gut. Their discovery could have major implications for future therapies in the fight against obesity and metabolic problems.

Researchers already knew that serotonin (one of the mainów of specific neurotransmittersó(w) can lead to fat loss, but it was not clear why this happens. To determine this, experiments were conducted on nematodes of the Caenorhabditis elegans species. In this wayób found a hormone thatóry burn fats.

These nematodes are often used as a model for research. This is because they produce the same signaling molecules, whichóre can be found in humans. The study was based on the elimination of eachólnych genóIn, to determine without któhe fat burning will not be initiated. In this wayób neuropeptide hormone FLP-7 found.

It turned out that this hormone, or rather a version of it found in mammalsów – tachykinin – has been known to researchers for more than 80 years. Even then it was linked to the functioning of the digestive system, but no one realized that it was responsible for burning fatów.

To find out whether it is indeed FLP-7 that plays a key role in the metabolism of fatów, a marker usedóin fluorescence to trace the process. California scientists observed that stimuli, such as the availability of food, cause an increase in serotonin production, which in turn initiates the production of the hormone FLP-7. FLP-7 stimulates receptors located in the intestinal wall, whichóre cause the conversion of fat into energy.

In addition, scientists have shown that increased levels of the hormone FLP-7 do not cause any effects of theóin the side.

The results of the scientists’ worków have been published on „Nature Communications”.