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London: In a pioneering research,
scientists have defined the structure of a key part of
the human obesity receptor — an essential factor in the
regulation of body fat.
A team at the University of Sheffield says its
research, published in the Structure journal, could pave
the way for new treatments for the complications of
obesity and anorexia and will enhance the ability to
generate drugs which can both block and stimulate the
receptor for obesity hormone leptin.
This could have life-changing effects on people
suffering from complications of obesity and
malnutrition.
In fact, they have solved the challenging crystal
structure of the leptin-binding domain of the obesity
receptor using state of the art X-ray crystallography,
helping them to work out how to block or stimulate the
receptor.
Blocking the receptor, and therefore the excessive
actions of leptin, could prevent the complications of
obesity and stimulating the receptor may improve
fertility and the immune response.
“This pioneering research gives us the potential to
generate new drugs that could treat conditions and
diseases associated with obesity such as Multiple
Sclerosis, diabetes and heart disease. |
