University of Basel other research news

Swiss scientists reported that a family of cell signaling molecules called STAT proteins is used by leptin (OB protein) in its fat-regulating actions.

STAT 3, 5, and 6 are the fat STATs, according to results published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A shortened form of the mouse leptin receptor, present in db/db mutants, cannot activate these STATs, the research shows. Defective splicing that produces a truncated protein causes this defect. ...