A small molecule called BAM15 that has the ability to burn body fat was identified by a team of scientists at Virginia Tech. In their resent publication in Nature Communications, Alexopoulos et al. discuss the potential use of this molecule in Obesity, Diabetes and Liver disease therapy.
When administered in mice, the mitochondrial uncoupler BAM15 was able to decrease body fat mass without any resultant increase in food intake or body temperature (both of which are side effects from previous fat loss drugs). The molecule was also able to decrease insulin resistance and inflammation due to oxidative stress.
If you’re wondering how this molecule works within the cell, it essentially helps the cell respire more. BAM15 transports protons into the cellular matrix by bypassing ATP synthase, destroying the electronic gradient. In order to reestablish this gradient, the cell increases metabolism by burning more fuel at higher rates than required.
As far as safety is concerned, BAM15 is not toxic even at high doses and does not affect satiety. The treated mice did not experience an increase or decrease in appetite or body temperature. Although the molecule has a very short half-life (the amount of time the drug is effective inside the body), potential enhancements using pharmacokinetic analysis might help in identification of an improved version of the drug.
Read more at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16298-2
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