BCAA-nitrogen flux in brown fat controls metabolic health independent of thermogenesis. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38653240/)

These scientists wanted to understand why brown fat in our bodies is important for keeping us healthy. They found that brown fat helps our bodies use energy and control our blood sugar levels, which can prevent diseases like diabetes. The scientists studied how a specific process in brown fat involving certain amino acids called branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) affects our overall health.

To do this, the scientists did an experiment where they removed a part of the cells in brown fat that helps break down BCAAs. They discovered that when this part was missing, it caused problems with how the body responds to insulin, a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels. This made the body less able to use energy properly and increased stress on the body's cells.

The scientists also found that when mice were fed a high-fat diet, it made this process in brown fat work less effectively, which could be harmful to their health. However, when the mice were exposed to cold temperatures, it actually helped this process work better, which could be good for their health.

Overall, this study helped the scientists learn more about how brown fat helps our bodies stay healthy by controlling how we use energy and regulate our blood sugar levels.

Verkerke ARP., Wang D., Yoshida N., Taxin ZH., Shi X., Zheng S., Li Y., Auger C., Oikawa S., Yook JS., Granath-Panelo M., He W., Zhang GF., Matsushita M., Saito M., Gerszten RE., Mills EL., Banks AS., Ishihama Y., White PJ., McGarrah RW., Yoneshiro T., Kajimura S. BCAA-nitrogen flux in brown fat controls metabolic health independent of thermogenesis. Cell. 2024 May 9;187(10):2359-2374.e18. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.030. Epub 2024 Apr 22.