![Eating Just One Potato Chip Is Impossible Gene - Revealed Eating Just One Potato Chip Is Impossible Gene - Revealed](https://images.medindia.net/health-images/1200_1000/banning-sale-of-junk-food-near-schools.jpg)
‘Scientists revealed that a specific gene — CRTC1 in the brain is found to play a significant role in preventing one from overeating high-calorie fat foods.’
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Recently, it became clear that a gene called CREB-Regulated Transcription Coactivator 1 (CRTC1) is associated with obesity in humans. When CRTC1 is deleted in mice, they become obese, indicating that functioning CRTC1 suppresses obesity.
However, since CRTC1 is expressed in all neurons in the brain, the specific neurons responsible for suppressing obesity and the mechanism present in those neurons remained unknown, as per the study.
Role of CRTC1 Gene in Obesity
To understand the mechanism by which CRTC1 suppresses obesity, a research group led by associate professor Shigenobu Matsumura from Osaka Metropolitan University focused on neurons expressing the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R).They hypothesized that CRTC1 expression in MC4R-expressing neurons suppressed obesity because mutations in the MC4R gene are known to cause obesity.
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High-calorie foods -- high in fat, oil, and sugar -- can taste good but often cause overeating, leading to obesity and major health problems.
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"We hope this will lead to a better understanding of what causes people to overeat," Matsumura added.
Source-IANS