Nutrition & DietMcGill Scientists Find Molecular Switch in Brown Fat That Burns Calories and Builds Bone
Scientists at McGill University have discovered a molecular switch that activates a hidden energy-burning system in brown fat. When the body gets cold, fat breakdown releases a molecule called glycerol, which binds to an enzyme called TNAP, triggering an alternative heat-producing pathway called the futile creatine cycle. This is the first time researchers have identified what activates this secondary system. Crucially, TNAP also plays a central role in bone formation, meaning this discovery could lead to new treatments for hypophosphatasia, a rare disorder causing soft, fracture-prone bones. The findings, published in Nature, open new avenues in both metabolic and bone health research.
