A tiny protein that helps brown fat make heat
MICT1 function in thermogenesis
This work looks at whether a small protein called MICT1 boosts brown fat activity to help people with obesity burn more calories.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325783 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers focus on a newly discovered 76-amino-acid microprotein that rises in brown fat after cold exposure and may change how fat cells produce heat. In the lab they change the protein’s levels in fat cells and use mice that lack or overexpress the protein in brown fat to measure oxygen use and heat production. They will examine signaling pathways like PKA and the protein phosphatase PP2B to see how MICT1 controls fat cell activity. The goal is to learn whether targeting this molecule could eventually be used to activate human brown fat against obesity and insulin resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with obesity or insulin resistance who are interested in future treatments that boost brown fat activity would be the most likely candidates for trials that build on this work.
Not a fit: Patients without metabolic disease or those expecting an immediate treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic lab and animal research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new ways to activate brown fat so people with obesity burn more calories and improve blood sugar control.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show that activating brown fat can increase calorie burning in humans, but targeting a newly described microprotein like MICT1 is a novel approach with limited direct human testing to date.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sul, Hei Sook — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Sul, Hei Sook
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.