‘Exercise mimic’ molecule touted as potential diabetes, obesity cure

Named “compound 14′, the particle has been found to essentially ‘trick” cells into thinking they have undergone large amounts of exercise.

When the compound 14 blocks the ATIC function, the molecule called ZMP accumulates in the cells and this activates the cell’s central energy sensor also known as AMPK.

Documented in the journal Chemistry and Biology, the researchers developed “compound 14”, a molecule that works the same way as the body goes through the motions of exercise. That is a process commonly occurring during exercise and is widely attributed to weight loss. What compound 14 does is cut out the part where you have to actually expend energy.

When mice with a normal diet were treated with compound 14, their blood glucose levels and weight remained normal.

Chemical biology professor, Dr. Ali Tavassoli, and his team have developed a drug that inhibits the activity of ATIC, a cellular enzyme with a vital role in metabolism. That in turn leads to the build up of something called ZMP – known as a “master regulator” of metabolism – in the cells. Then, just like that, your body starts burning up all of last week’s carnitas.

A new molecule that acts as an exercise mimicker could potentially treat type 2 diabetes and obesity according to scientists from the University of Southampton. She pointed out that this new molecule can help reduce blood glucose levels and also decrease body weight if the patient is obese. If the researchers succeed in getting this drug into pharmacies, one thing’s for sure: They’re not going to have any trouble finding a market for it.

“The issue is that established drugs do not successfully enable patients with type 2 diabetes to achieve glycemic control and some can even result in weight gain, a leading factor driving the diabetes epidemic”, he continues. Meanwhile, it had no affect on the normal mice’s weight.

While the compound is yet to be verified as safe for human consumption, a clinical trial has found it was effective when delivered to mice. The group under the high-fat diet, on the other hand, exhibited significant lowering of their blood glucose levels.

The researchers said their next step would be to examine the effect of long-term treatment and how it works to improve glucose tolerance and reducing body weight. One group was on a healthy diet, while the other one was stuffed with unhealthy food that eventually made them chronically obese and prone to pre-diabetes due to high glucose intolerance.

Professor Tavassoli also gave a statement informing that previous studies support the idea of selectively activating AMPK in order to alter cellular metabolism.