Scientists Discover Enzyme’s Dual Role in Fat Regulation, Opening New Avenues for Obesity Therapy
Scientists have uncovered a surprising dual function for a key fat-metabolizing enzyme that operates both as a fat-breaker and gene regulator. This discovery helps explain why people with mutations in this enzyme develop lipodystrophy rather than obesity and could lead to new therapeutic strategies for metabolic disorders.
Enzyme’s Unexpected Dual Function Revealed
Scientists have discovered that a well-known fat-digesting enzyme plays a surprising second role as a genetic regulator within fat cells, according to a new study published in Cell Metabolism. The research reveals that hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), previously understood only as an enzyme that breaks down stored fat, also enters cell nuclei to control gene activity that maintains healthy fat tissue structure.