Enzyme HDAC3 May Be Why That High-fat Diet Is Bad For You
Monday, September 12, 2011 - 14:10
in Biology & Nature
We all know a high-fat diet is going to be bad for most people, but why?A study in mice showed that those lacking the gene-expression-controlling enzyme HDAC3 that were fed a high-fat diet experienced rapid thickening of the heart muscle and heart failure. A molecular link between fat intake and an enzyme tasked with regulating gene expression, at least in mice, may be a target for combating heart disease. The team found that the engineered mice without the enzyme HDAC3 tended to under-express genes important in fat metabolism and energy production. Essentially, when fed a high-fat diet, these animals' hearts cannot generate enough energy and thus cannot pump blood efficiently.read more