The single gene was found to play an important role in the way the liver saves energy

A new study published in Scientific progress It reveals that a single gene plays a big role in the way the liver stores energy, a process that is critical to overall health and for diseases such as type 2 diabetes. led by Kate Townsend Creasy of Penn Nursing, PhD, Epicurus Professor of Science, PPP1R3B. This gene tells the liver how to handle energy: store it as glycogen (sugar form) or triglycerides (a type of fat).

The research team found that when the PPP1R3B gene is more active, the liver tends to store more energy as glycogen. The liver stores more energy as fat when the gene is less active. This displacement between glycogen and fat storage is vital because it affects the way the body manages blood sugar and fat levels.

Large -scale genomic studies in humans have reported that mutations in the PPP1R3B gene are associated with various metabolic conditions, including type 2 diabetes and adipose liver disease. However, it was not clear how the gene participated in these conditions.

Our research shows that PPP1R3B is like a liver control switch. It directs whether the liver stores energy for rapid use in the form of glycogen or long -term storage as fat. We also saw changes in how effectively mice and cells with genetic manipulations of PPP1R3B could use either glucose or fat for energy. This discovery could help us find new ways to help people with metabolic diseases with precision eating approaches, based on their genetics. ”

Kate Townsend Creasy, PhD, Assistant Professor of Nutrition Science, Department of Health Sciences, Penn Nursing

Co-authors from Perelman Medical School include: Minal B. Mehta, Joseph Park, David Zhang and Swapnil V. Shewale (all based in the Department of Genetics), Carolin V. Schneider (Department Nicholas J. Hand (Department of Physiology), Paul M. Titchenell (Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and Department of Physiology), Joseph A. Baur. Genetics and Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism). The National Institutes of Health supported this research.