Nesfatin-1
Encyclopedia
Nesfatin-1 is a naturally occurring protein molecule
produced by the brain
s of mammal
s. Japanese scientists discovered in 2006 that it is responsible for regulating appetite
and production of body fat
. Excess nesfatin-1 in the brain leads to a loss of appetite, less frequent hunger, a 'sense of fullness', and a drop in body fat and weight. A lack of nesfatin-1 in the brain leads to an increase of appetite, more frequent episodes of hunger, an increase of body fat and weight, and the inability to 'feel full.' This latter condition can be artificially induced by injecting an anti-nesfatin-1 antibody into the brain.
The receptors within the brain are not completely understood, although they are thought to be contained in the hypothalamus
and in the solitary nucleus
, where nesfatin-1 is believed to be produced via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
s (PPARs).
Through observation, it appears there is also some unknown relationship between nesfatin-1 and cannaboid receptors; however, its precise mechanism and effect remain controversial. Nesfatin-1-induced inhibition of feeding may be mediated through the inhibition of orexigenic NPY neurons. ((Brain Res. 2008 Sep 16;1230:99-106. Epub 2008 Jul)]
Discovery and study of nesfatin-1 was assisted by Hiroyuki Shimizu at Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine within the Medicine and Molecular Science department with assistance by research conducted at Saitama University
(Saitama
, Japan
) and the Nippon Medical College (Tokyo
, Japan
).
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
produced by the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
s of mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s. Japanese scientists discovered in 2006 that it is responsible for regulating appetite
Appetite
The appetite is the desire to eat food, felt as hunger. Appetite exists in all higher life-forms, and serves to regulate adequate energy intake to maintain metabolic needs. It is regulated by a close interplay between the digestive tract, adipose tissue and the brain. Decreased desire to eat is...
and production of body fat
Adipose tissue
In histology, adipose tissue or body fat or fat depot or just fat is loose connective tissue composed of adipocytes. It is technically composed of roughly only 80% fat; fat in its solitary state exists in the liver and muscles. Adipose tissue is derived from lipoblasts...
. Excess nesfatin-1 in the brain leads to a loss of appetite, less frequent hunger, a 'sense of fullness', and a drop in body fat and weight. A lack of nesfatin-1 in the brain leads to an increase of appetite, more frequent episodes of hunger, an increase of body fat and weight, and the inability to 'feel full.' This latter condition can be artificially induced by injecting an anti-nesfatin-1 antibody into the brain.
The receptors within the brain are not completely understood, although they are thought to be contained in the hypothalamus
Hypothalamus
The Hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions...
and in the solitary nucleus
Solitary nucleus
The solitary tract and nucleus are structures in the brainstem that carry and receive visceral sensation and taste from the facial , glossopharyngeal and vagus cranial nerves.-Anatomy:...
, where nesfatin-1 is believed to be produced via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
In the field of molecular biology, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors are a group of nuclear receptor proteins that function as transcription factors regulating the expression of genes...
s (PPARs).
Through observation, it appears there is also some unknown relationship between nesfatin-1 and cannaboid receptors; however, its precise mechanism and effect remain controversial. Nesfatin-1-induced inhibition of feeding may be mediated through the inhibition of orexigenic NPY neurons. ((Brain Res. 2008 Sep 16;1230:99-106. Epub 2008 Jul)]
Discovery and study of nesfatin-1 was assisted by Hiroyuki Shimizu at Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine within the Medicine and Molecular Science department with assistance by research conducted at Saitama University
Saitama University
Saitama University is a Japanese national university located in a suburban area of Sakura-ku, Saitama City capital of Saitama Prefecture in Tokyo Metropolitan Area....
(Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
) and the Nippon Medical College (Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
).
External links
- A Scientific Article Mentioning Nesfatin-1 (In japanese languageJapanese languageis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
). - A News Article Announcing the Discovery of Nesfatin-1 (In japanese languageJapanese languageis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
).