Jan. 4, 2013 In many cases, obesity is caused by more than just
overeating and a lack of exercise. Something in the body goes
haywire, causing it to store more fat and burn less energy. But
what is it? Sanford-Burnham researchers have a new theory -- a
protein called p62. According to a study the team published
December 21 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, when p62
is missing in fat tissue, the body's metabolic balance shifts --
inhibiting "good" brown fat, while favoring "bad" white fat.
These findings indicate that p62 might make a promising target
for new therapies aimed at curbing obesity. "Without p62 you're
making lots of fat but not burning energy, and the body thinks
it needs to store energy," said Jorge Moscat, Ph.D., Sanford-
Burnham professor. "It's a double whammy." Moscat led the study
with collaborators at Helmholtz Zentrum München in Germany and
the University of Cincinnati. p62 and obesity Moscat's team had
previously produced mice that completely lack the p62 protein
everywhere in thei