This protein may help regulate fat levels in humans

A new study has revealed that the protein, which regulates protein production, can also control fat levels.

Researchers said that Maf1 was the protein found in worms and a version of the protein, exists in humans which regulates protein production in the cell, raising the possibility that it too may control fat storage.

Sean Curran, assistant professor at the USC Davis School of Gerontology explained that so far people have only studied Maf1 in single cells, where it was known to regulate protein synthesis, but no one looked at its effect on the whole organism before. Curran further added that Maf1 plays a significant role in an animal by altering how they store fat and a protein with such a function would offer a new target for pharmaceuticals to regulate fat.

The team found that adding in a single extra copy of gene that expresses Maf1 decreased stored lipids by 34%, while reducing Maf1 levels increased stored lipids by 94%.

Deborah Johnson, graduate student of USC assisted Curran said that Maf1 changes lipid metabolism in cancer cells, raising the possibility that it could be used in tumor cell suppression.

The study is published in Cell Reports recently.