A brain enzyme in the hypothalamus that helps control body weight
Body weight control by hypothalamic OGT
Researchers are looking into whether a brain enzyme called OGT in a specific hypothalamus region helps set your body weight and control how fat is broken down, which could matter for people with overweight or blood sugar problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145643 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses advanced lab methods to map how OGT in a tiny brain area (the ventromedial hypothalamus) influences body weight and fat tissue. Scientists will turn OGT activity up and down in neurons and trace the nerve pathways from those cells to fat, while measuring changes in body weight, fat breakdown, and blood sugar. Techniques include neural tracing, molecular profiling, optogenetics (light-based control of neurons), and electrophysiology to record neuron activity. Most work will be done in controlled lab models to reveal detailed mechanisms that might point toward future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future candidates would be people with overweight or obesity and related metabolic problems such as high blood sugar who might benefit from therapies targeting brain control of fat metabolism.
Not a fit: People whose weight issues are driven primarily by non-metabolic causes (for example, medication side effects or structural problems) may be less likely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new targets in the brain to help regulate body weight and improve fat metabolism, potentially leading to better treatments for obesity and metabolic disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies suggest OGT influences metabolism and fat breakdown, but detailed mapping of the specific brain circuits and mechanisms in this way is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Xiaoyong — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Yang, Xiaoyong
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.