If you tend to stuff yourself with chips without being able to stop you, it is not only because of their taste. As explains the New York Postthem food High in calories regularly leads to overeating, leading to obesity as well as major health issues. It would turn out that manger excessively is actually written in your genes.
Recently, researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan discovered that the embarrassed named “CREB-Regulated Transcription Coactivator 1” (CRTC1) was closely linked to the prevention of obesity in humans. This sets a limit preventing you from eating too much, especially when it comes to junk food.
The research team led by Professor Shigenobu Matsumura therefore decided to elucidate the mechanism by which CRTC1 preventsobesity. For this, the group focused on neurones expressing the protein melanocortin-4 (MC4R), a receptor playing a key role in maintaining energy homeostasis. According to him, the presence of CRTC1 in neurons expressing MC4R would prevent obesity. However, mutations of the MC4R gene are precisely known to cause this disease chronic.
Experiment to affirm
During their experiment, the researchers created a strain of mice comprising the CRTC1 gene. With one exception: it was not present in neurons expressing MC4R, the aim being to examine the effect of CRTC1 deletion on obesity and diabetes.
The animals were then divided into two groups. The first, whose gene was removed, was first tested. When they were subjected to a diet standard mice showed no change in body weight compared to the control group. However, when faced with high-calorie foods, rodents ate excessively. As a result, a clear gain of weight and a tendency to diabetes were highlighted.
“This study thus revealed that the CRTC1 gene plays an important role in our brain by preventing us from eating too many foods rich in calories, fats and sugars”expose Shigenobu Matsumura.
But some people have a variation genetic or a malfunction of the CRTC1. As a result, its effectiveness is reduced, leading to overeating or a form of obesity.