April, 2001

by Mary J. Shomon

Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston are reporting in the journal Science that mice that were genetically modified, eliminating a key enzyme that plays a role in the metabolism of fat, could eat as much as 40 percent more food than normal mice, but weighed 10 to 15 percent less.

These findings may result in a drug that would reduce or block that same enzyme, resulting in the ability to lose weight without cutting calories or adding exercise.

In an interview reported on by Reuters, Dr. Salih Wakil, who led the study, said "This would be great for the couch potatoes -- guys who can sit on the couch, eat the potato (chips), watch the TV, without worrying about having a bigger paunch. So this is what we feel potentially can be done."

With at least 70 million obese Americans -- that's a third of all adults, and 20% of children-- there's certainly interest in these developments.

The researchers found that the lack of the enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2, or ACC2 allowed for normal mice to eat more, weight less, and gain less fat -- in some cases, as much as 50 percent less body fat than normal mice, while still burning fatty acids.

Researchers are suggesting that a drug that would inhibit ACC2 may be a potential for a future anti-obesity or weight control drug.