Scientists discover protein switch that makes human cells burn fat and block fat formation
Disabling the MTCH2 protein, nicknamed 'Mitch', could open a new path to fighting obesity by targeting how cells use energy rather than appetite.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have identified a single protein, MTCH2, that acts as a switch determining whether human cells burn fat or store it. Disabling this protein, nicknamed 'Mitch', increased fat consumption and blocked the formation of new fat cells in laboratory experiments, offering a potential new approach to obesity treatment that targets metabolism rather than appetite.