AR-News: (U.S. - N.Y.) mouse-tested enzyme against obesity

[Mary Finelli]

Summary from another source: "New York University scientists are reporting a 
discovery of an enzyme that impacts how much lab mice eat and how heavy they 
grow. Researchers hope it will allow the development of obesity-fighting 
drugs."


SCIENTISTS ID ENZYME THAT REGULATES APPETITE
Finding Could Lead to Drug Treatments to Combat Obesity, Diabetes
HealthDay, Amanda Gardner, March 17, 2004

complete article at:
http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=517953


Scientists have found another link in the complex chain of biological events 
that govern how much we eat and, consequently, what we weigh.

This time, the link is an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), 
which is found, among other areas, in the hypothalamus region of the brain. 
The enzyme appeared to have an effect on regulating how much mice ate and 
how heavy they grew, a new study finds.

The finding could potentially make the enzyme a target for a drug to fight 
obesity, which is rapidly becoming the preeminent American health crisis of 
the 21st century.

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