Going to BAT

Two teams are reporting new targets for inducing the conversion of white fat to a brown-like phenotype, or boosting the activity of existing brown fat, that could help treat obesity and related metabolic diseases. A Brigham and Women's Hospital team has identified an enzyme that regulates white adipose plasticity,¹ whereas a University of Cambridge team has identified a secreted protein that activates brown fat.²

White adipose tissue (WAT) stores energy as triglycerides, and brown adipose tissue (BAT) metabolizes fatty acids to generate heat. The mobilization of triglycerides by brown fat keeps in check the storage of fat by white fat, which helps control weight and overall metabolic status...