Guardian. Molecule in python blood could pave way for new obesity drugs, scientists say
Researchers find snake metabolite that suppresses appetite of obese mice without some of the side effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs.
Pythons follow the ultimate crash diet, swallowing an antelope in a single sitting and then going for months without eating. Now scientists have identified a molecule that appears to be crucial for this metabolic feat, and which they say could pave the way for a new class of obesity drugs.
When the python metabolite, which spikes in their blood after eating, was given to obese mice, they shunned food and rapidly lost weight. The scientists said the molecule could have a similar effect to drugs such as Wegovy.
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“Obviously, we are not snakes,” said Dr Jonathan Long, an associate professor of pathology at Stanford University and co-author of the research. “But maybe by studying these animals, we can identify molecules or metabolic pathways that also affect human metabolism.”
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