Crucial Fat Metabolism Switch Identified in Human Cells For First Time

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science identified the MTCH2 protein's role in fat metabolism by deleting the gene in human cells and observing over 100 metabolic substances, revealing the protein controls whether cells burn or store fat and suppresses fat cell formation.

The discovery is foundational research; actual treatments are still years away and would need to address whether blocking MTCH2 in humans would replicate the beneficial effects seen in mice without causing unintended side effects.