Animals have been eating nature’s original bioplastic for millions of years

 The little worm that changed the textbook: The gutless marine worm Olavius algarvensis (here lying next to some sand grains) is only about two centimeters long and has become so dependent on its bacterial symbionts for nutrition and waste recycling that it has lost both its digestive and excretory systems. Its white appearance comes from the dense layer of bacterial symbionts beneath its skin, which are packed with PHA, the microbial bioplastic at the center of this study. This inconspicuous worm helped scientists discover that animals can digest microbial bioplastics previously thought to be broken down only by microorganisms. Credit: Alexander Gruhl / Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology

Microorganisms developed biodegradable plastics long before humans began making them. Many bacteria and archaea naturally produce compounds known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which they store inside their cells as reserves of carbon and energy.

Scientists had long assumed that only microorganisms could break down these natural plastics. New research from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, now challenges that idea. In a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, researchers found that a wide range of animals, including marine worms, starfish, earthworms, and other terrestrial species, possess enzymes that can degrade microbial PHAs. The discovery points to a previously unrecognized pathway through which carbon stored by microbes can move into animal food webs.

A Gutless Marine Worm Reveals a Hidden Ability

The investigation began with an unusual marine worm called Olavius algarvensis. Unlike most animals, it has no mouth or gut. Instead, the worm depends on symbiotic bacteria that live beneath its skin, which it digests as a source of nutrition.

"One of the worm's bacterial symbionts stores enormous amounts of carbon as PHA," says corresponding author Nicole Dubilier, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology. "We wondered whether the worm had evolved a way to access this rich energy reserve."

The answer was: Yes. Researchers identified an enzyme in the worm that can break microbial PHAs into smaller molecules that animals are able to use. High-resolution imaging also revealed that the enzyme is produced in the same location where the worm digests its bacterial partners. That finding indicates that the worm can tap into the PHA reserves stored inside its symbiotic bacteria.

The discovery did not stop with a single marine worm. When the team examined animal genomes more broadly, they found related enzymes in more than 66 species spanning nine different phyla. Laboratory tests showed that enzymes from very distantly related animals, including a sponge, an earthworm and a springtail, could also degrade microbial PHAs.

"This was the real surprise," says first author Caroline Zeidler from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology. "What started as a discovery in a single marine worm turned out to be a widespread capability shared by animals from very different branches of the tree of life."

PHA bioplastics

PHAs serve as microbial energy and carbon reserves, but they are also used to manufacture biodegradable plastics. In industrial production, bacteria are grown inside large fermentation tanks and given carbon-rich materials such as sugars, starch, or plant oils. Under the right conditions, the bacteria build up large amounts of PHAs. These compounds can then be extracted and turned into plastic-like materials.

PHA-based plastics can be molded, resist water relatively well, and remain stable enough for a variety of everyday uses. They are used in products such as food packaging and hygiene materials. In agriculture, fertilizers can be enclosed inside PHA beads that gradually release their contents as the plastic breaks down. Medical applications include wound dressings, drug delivery systems, and resorbable implants or sutures that slowly degrade inside the body.

PHAs are especially notable because of their biological circularity: They are made by microorganisms and can also be broken down through biological processes. Even so, they currently account for only a small share of the bioplastics market. That could change as demand rises for biodegradable, bio-based materials and global production capacity for bioplastics is expected to grow substantially in the coming years.

The new findings add another dimension to this picture by showing that many aquatic and terrestrial animals also carry enzymes capable of breaking down PHAs.

Natural Bioplastics Are Widespread in the Environment

Microbial PHAs are found naturally in soils, sediments, and aquatic environments around the world. Microorganisms produce them when they have more carbon than they immediately need, storing that excess for later use. PHAs are also among the relatively few naturally occurring plastics that are completely biodegradable.

Interest in PHAs has grown because they are increasingly being manufactured as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. As a result, scientists are paying closer attention to how these materials are broken down in natural environments.

The findings from Dubilier and her colleagues suggest that animals may help degrade natural bioplastics alongside microorganisms. Even more significantly, the results show that animals can gain access to a microbial carbon reserve that scientists had previously considered unavailable to them.

"Our study changes our understanding of who can use these microbial carbon stores," says co-corresponding author Maggie Sogin, who carried out much of the work at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology and is now Assistant Professor at the University of California, Merced. "Animals have probably been feeding on nature's original bioplastic for hundreds of millions of years - we're only discovering it now."

A New Pathway in the Carbon Cycle

Scientists still do not know how common this process is in natural ecosystems or how much it contributes to the global cycling of carbon. Even so, the discovery offers a new way to think about the relationships between microorganisms and animals.

Source: ScienceDaily

Japanese scientists use tiny silver particles to make DNA assembly up to 5x more efficient

 DNA consists of long molecular chains that carry the genetic instructions needed for life. In genetic engineering, researchers cut DNA at carefully chosen locations and connect those pieces with other DNA sequences. This process supports a wide range of applications, including improved crop breeding, treatments for genetic diseases, and the creation of animal models used in drug development.

To efficiently connect short pieces of DNA, scientists rely on overhanging sequences called sticky ends. These exposed sections help DNA fragments bind to one another. Producing the right sticky ends, however, requires highly precise cutting at specific locations, something existing technologies do not always handle well.

Researchers in Japan have now developed a method that uses silver nanoparticles to cut and reconnect DNA at targeted sites. The technique produced DNA assembly efficiencies two to five times higher than those achieved with conventional restriction enzyme methods. The findings were published in Nucleic Acids Research.

Limitations of Conventional DNA Assembly

Standard methods for assembling long DNA molecules typically use restriction enzymes to make cuts and T4 DNA ligase to connect the resulting fragments. Restriction enzymes, however, can only recognize and cut certain DNA sequences. They also tend to produce sticky ends that are relatively short, which can reduce the efficiency of the joining process.

Seeking an alternative, a team led by Professor Hiroshi Abe and Assistant Professor Masahito Inagaki at Nagoya University, working with Professor Natsuhisa Oka at Gifu University, investigated whether chemical reactions could be used to cut DNA at selected locations instead of relying on restriction enzymes.

The researchers revisited a reaction first reported between 1990 and 1992 in which silver ions cut 3'-thiol-modified DNA at specific sites. They tested whether this reaction could be used to create useful sticky ends. Silver ions were effective at cutting the DNA, but they also attached nonspecifically and caused precipitation. As a result, only about 14% of the DNA could be recovered, far too little for practical applications.

Silver Nanoparticles Improve DNA Recovery

The team next replaced silver ions with silver nanoparticles. The researchers reasoned that nanoparticles could be separated from the reaction mixture through centrifugation, which could make it easier to recover the DNA afterward.

Initial experiments found that DNA cleavage efficiency reached about 50% at 70°C and almost 100% at 95°C within two hours. Those temperatures, however, can damage long DNA molecules, creating another obstacle for practical use.

To solve this problem, the researchers coated the nanoparticles with polyethylene glycol (PEG), a water-soluble polymer, to improve their stability and dispersion. The coating raised DNA cleavage efficiency from 36% without PEG to 92% with PEG at 37°C over 31 hours. "In the end, we optimized the conditions to a practical level and, under ambient temperatures, achieved PEG-modified cleaving efficiency above 91% at 50°C within just one to two hours," stated Inagaki, the study's first author.

The nanoparticle approach provided another important advantage. Unwanted DNA fragments remained attached to the nanoparticle surfaces, while the desired fragments containing sticky ends stayed in solution. This built-in purification effect raised the final DNA recovery rate from 14% to 98%.

Longer Sticky Ends Boost DNA Joining

Silver nanoparticles also allowed the researchers to produce DNA fragments with 8-base sticky ends, which are difficult to generate using conventional restriction enzymes. When the scientists used T4 DNA ligase to connect those fragments, joining efficiency was about twice as high as with traditional methods.

The improvement became even greater with longer overhangs. Using an 18-base overhang, the researchers achieved a joining efficiency of 44%. By comparison, a conventional 4-base overhang produced an efficiency of only 8%, giving the new approach a fivefold advantage.

To test whether the method could work in a practical biological setting, the team assembled a DNA fragment that encoded green fluorescent protein (GFP). They then introduced the assembled DNA into human HeLa cells. The cells successfully expressed GFP, confirming that the DNA had been assembled accurately.

Potential Uses in Gene Therapy and Synthetic DNA

Inagaki commented, "We believe this technology will be useful for synthesizing genomic DNA, with many possible applications in areas such as mRNA library establishment for cancer vaccines and gene therapy, as well as the development of artificial protein drugs and genome crops."

The researchers now want to determine whether the technique can move beyond connecting just two DNA fragments at a time. He also explained the next step: "We have shown that two DNA fragments can be joined. Now, we need to confirm whether multiple fragments can be joined at the same time -- a key step for building genome-scale DNA."

Source: ScienceDaily

A hidden “on switch” in human DNA has finally been decoded

 Healthy growth and development depend on tens of thousands of genes being switched on at the right time and in the right place. Specific regions of DNA help coordinate this process, guiding the production of enzymes, hormones, proteins, and other molecules that cells need to function properly. When gene activation goes wrong, cells can malfunction and contribute to diseases, including cancer.

To better understand the DNA sequences that control this process, researchers in the laboratory of University of California San Diego Professor James T. Kadonaga focused on an important DNA element known as the "initiator." The initiator marks the location where the information encoded in a gene begins to be converted, or expressed, into a functional product.

AI Decodes the Initiator Sequence

In the new study, led by graduate student researcher Torrey Rhyne-Carrigg, the team used high-throughput DNA sequencing to measure gene expression activity across approximately 500,000 different versions of the initiator.

The researchers then used those results to train a machine learning system, a form of artificial intelligence, to identify the characteristic DNA pattern associated with the initiator. Once the model had decoded that signature, the team searched human genes for the sequence and found that roughly 60% contain the initiator.

"These AI models were found to provide, for the first time, strong predictions of the presence or absence of the initiator in human genes, and were thus able to decode the DNA base sequence pattern of the initiator," said Kadonaga, a professor in the UC San Diego Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences.

Predicting the Effects of DNA Mutations

The findings could help researchers anticipate how mutations affecting the initiator may alter gene activity and contribute to a range of disorders. The study's data and AI models may also support the design of synthetic promoters, sequences that can switch genes on or off, with functions tailored for specific purposes.

More broadly, the research shows how laboratory experiments and artificial intelligence can be combined to uncover information encoded in human DNA.

"More globally, this work is a step forward in the combined use of laboratory experiments and AI to decipher the information that is embedded in the sequence of the DNA bases in humans," said Kadonaga. "Ultimately, within the six billion bases of DNA in each of our cells, there is a gene expression code that specifies when, where and to what extent each of our genes should be turned on or off. If we had an AI model for the entire gene expression code, we would be able to predict the activity of each of the different variants of genes in different people. The new AI model for the initiator is a small but important part of this gene expression code, and I am optimistic that we will expand our AI models of the human gene expression code in the not-too-distant future."

Source: ScienceDaily

Scientists left this farm field alone. Thousands of orchids appeared

 Research led by Professor Carl Sayer at UCL Geography has found that abandoned farmland can recover naturally and develop into a diverse wildflower meadow, raising questions about some conventional methods used in habitat restoration.

Published in Restoration Ecology, the research followed changes in plant life over 11 years (2011-2022) in a two-hectare field in North Norfolk. Farming at the site ended after its final crop in 2005. Aside from a traditional annual hay cut, the field was largely allowed to recover without intervention.

Farmland Transforms Into a Wildflower Meadow

Within 10-15 years, the former arable field had developed into a species-rich wildflower meadow. The number and variety of plants increased over time, including locally rare species such as southern marsh orchid, greater tussock-sedge, yellow rattle and common centaury.

The results call into question the common assumption that restoring species-rich grassland necessarily requires commercial seed mixes or other expensive measures. Instead, the researchers suggest that allowing natural ecological processes to unfold can restore biodiversity while also preserving the genetic diversity of plants already adapted to the local area.

Carl Sayer, Professor of Limnology and Freshwater Ecology, said, "Our study shows that resisting seeding and allowing nature to lead may be worth trying a lot more in wildflower meadow restoration. Natural plant recovery better safeguards genetic diversity than seeding and ensures that local species thrive, making meadows less generic. As things stand the UK needs nature recovery fast, at big scales. In the push to achieve this goal our study poses the question: should we be employing patience over seed packet more often?"

The findings arrive as governments throughout the UK and Europe search for effective ways to restore biodiversity across large areas of former farmland. Species-rich grasslands offer important habitat for pollinating insects, birds and mammals. They can also strengthen ecosystem resilience and help landscapes adapt to climate change.

Tracking Natural Meadow Recovery Over 11 Years

Long-term ecological studies examining the natural restoration of grasslands are uncommon because they depend on consistent monitoring over many years.

The study focused on Sayer's Meadow in Bodham, North Norfolk. The land is owned by Professor Sayer's father and co-author Derek Sayer. Every two to three years, Professor Sayer and collaborator Pete Robinson conducted detailed vegetation surveys. They recorded every plant species identified across the meadow and tracked changes within permanent survey plots.

During the study period, the average number of plant species found in each survey plot doubled. The figure rose from about 10 species in 2011 to nearly 20 by 2022.

As the meadow developed, thousands of orchids became established naturally. Populations of yellow rattle also increased. Both are considered indicators of successful meadow restoration.

Wildlife May Have Helped Plants Return

The researchers think some of the site's more unusual plants may have arrived without human assistance, possibly carried or dispersed by wildlife such as deer. Their appearance highlights the ability of landscapes to regenerate when natural ecological processes are given enough time to operate.

Reflecting on the project, Professor Sayer said:

"The field belongs to my family, and after an oilseed rape crop in 2005 we stopped farming it as the land was difficult to drain. I really wanted a wildflower meadow and all advice was to seed it, but I resisted the temptation, as I have always been interested in nature's ability to recover itself.

"When the first orchids started appearing in our surveys, we were thrilled and now the meadow is unbelievably diverse, with thousands of orchids that delight locals in the village. Our study shows what can be achieved by a traditional hay cutting approach combined with nature's brilliant spontaneity. A visit to the meadow is like stepping back through time."

A Simpler Approach to Biodiversity Restoration

The research shows how geographical studies can help shape practical strategies for restoring damaged landscapes. It provides evidence that nature-led recovery could contribute significantly to biodiversity restoration goals while lowering both the cost and complexity associated with bringing degraded land back to ecological health.

Source: ScienceDaily

190-year-old DNA reveals a hidden pangolin species

 Pangolins look almost prehistoric. These medium-sized mammals, found only in Africa and Asia, have long, powerful tails, large curved claws, and bodies covered in overlapping scales that resemble a pinecone. Those distinctive scales are also a major reason pangolins are in danger. They are heavily targeted by poachers and are considered the most highly trafficked mammals in the world, leaving many species at serious risk of extinction.

Now, researchers have confirmed that a previously unrecognized Asian pangolin species, Manis aurita, has been living in Nepal and Northern India. The findings, published in Communications Biology, clarify how different pangolin species are related, where they live, and how they can be distinguished. That information could also help authorities identify where illegally traded pangolins are being hunted and strengthen efforts to stop poaching.

"We can't protect what we do not know, and now that we have confirmed that this other species of pangolin exists, we can use that information to help protect these endangered animals," says Anderson Feijó, the Negaunee Assistant Curator of Mammals at the Field Museum and co-corresponding author of the study.

"This finding marks the culmination of more than five years of research that began in Nepal, where we first documented evidence suggesting that Himalayan pangolins represented a distinct evolutionary lineage," says Narayan Koju, a researcher at the Nepal Engineering College at Pokhara University and the study's first author. "The confirmation of Manis aurita as a valid species demonstrates the importance of long-term research, international collaboration, and museum collections. Most importantly, it provides a strong scientific basis for conservation planning, wildlife forensics, and efforts to protect one of the world's most trafficked mammals from extinction."

Untangling the Pangolin Family Tree

The classification of these Himalayan pangolins had already begun to change in 2025. That year, another research team determined that animals previously grouped together as Chinese pangolins actually represented two species. One occurs mainly in China, while the other inhabits the Himalayan foothills across parts of Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Myanmar. The researchers named the mountain-dwelling form Manis indoburmanica, or the Indo-Burmese pangolin.

But scientific naming follows a rule of priority: when the same species has been given more than one scientific name, the earliest valid name takes precedence.

At the time, Feijó and his colleagues were already conducting a decade-long investigation into pangolin evolution. Their work combined DNA evidence with physical characteristics to determine how many pangolin species exist and how those species are related.

During that research, they encountered records of Manis aurita, a pangolin described in 1836. Over time, M. aurita had been reclassified as a subspecies of the Chinese pangolin.

"This left us with a core taxonomic riddle: what is the relationship between indoburmanica and aurita? Are they the same species or different species?" says Kai He, another of the paper's co-corresponding authors and a researcher at the South China Biodiversity Research Center at Guangzhou University. "The ultimate, most thrilling piece of the puzzle came from the Natural History Museum in London. Thanks to their incredible expertise and assistance, the NHM team successfully sequenced the DNA directly from the historical type specimen of the Nepalese subspecies (aurita). This specimen dates back to 1836, making it nearly 190 years old."

DNA From 1836 Provides the Answer

Genetic material recovered from the historic museum specimen settled the question. Modern Himalayan pangolin samples matched aurita, showing that the animals described in 2025 as M. indoburmanica were actually members of the species first named M. aurita.

As a result, M. aurita is the correct scientific name.

"This taxonomic clarification provides a crucial scientific basis for combating illegal poaching and lays the groundwork for protecting this cryptic endangered species," says Yan Hua, a co-corresponding author of the study and researcher at the Guangdong Academy of Forestry.

The Himalayan pangolin M. aurita (briefly formerly known as M. indoburmanica) differs from the Chinese pangolin in several subtle but important ways.

"Compared to the Chinese pangolin, the Himalayan pangolin has a bigger body, a longer tail, and smaller ears," says Feijó. The revived name aurita itself refers to the animal's distinctive ears.

The two species are also separated geographically. Their known ranges do not overlap. For critically endangered animals, especially those facing intense pressure from poaching, understanding exactly which species lives where can be essential for conservation.

Source: ScienceDaily

Dogs may hold surprising clues to human longevity

 Dogs and humans may share some of the same biological patterns tied to lifespan, according to new research from the Dog Aging Project. The finding could give scientists a useful new way to investigate how aging works in both species.

In a study recently published in The Journals of Gerontology, researchers examined metabolites, small chemicals and molecules created during normal processes in the body. They found that certain combinations of these metabolites were associated with earlier or later death in dogs in ways that closely resembled patterns previously identified in humans.

"The molecules that are risky for dogs or protective against a sooner death are very similar to those in people, showing that we share important features of aging biology, which is really interesting and rewarding," said Dr. Kate Creevy, chief veterinary officer for the Dog Aging Project and a professor in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, where the work of the Dog Aging Project is generously supported by the WoodNext Foundation. "Our findings also highlight the value of pet dogs as a model for studying long-term health and lifespan."

Searching for Biological Signs of Lifespan

Metabolites can provide a snapshot of what is happening inside cells, making them useful for detecting biological patterns that may be connected to health and aging.

For the study, researchers analyzed blood samples from dogs participating in the Dog Aging Project. This community science effort follows dogs throughout their lives, with owners contributing detailed survey information and, in some cases, physical samples. The research team examined the blood for metabolic patterns associated with lifespan, focusing specifically on whether individual dogs died earlier or later.

"Death is an easy outcome to understand," Creevy said. "It is very easy to tell when a person or a dog has died, whereas other features of aging health are a bit more nuanced."

Using mortality as a clear endpoint allows scientists to work backward and investigate which biological processes may have contributed to the outcome. These processes can include metabolism, inflammation and the ways cells react to stress.

"If we understand why something happened, we have a greater chance of identifying ways to change it," Creevy said.

A Metabolic Fingerprint of Aging

Rather than focusing on individual molecules, the researchers analyzed thousands of metabolites together to look for larger patterns associated with risk. Creevy said these broader groups can reveal more about what may be taking place inside cells than any single molecule alone.

"Some of my colleagues refer to it as a fingerprint," Creevy said. "We often look at a pattern or grouping that has a relationship with better or worse outcomes rather than just looking at a single molecule."

These measurable biological indicators, known as biomarkers, can help researchers estimate the likelihood of certain health outcomes by revealing changes occurring inside the body.

"Importantly, those biomarkers do not necessarily cause an outcome; when we find a biomarker associated with sooner or later mortality, we don't know that it's causing it," Creevy said. "But if we understand why that biomarker is present, we may be able to identify what the cause of the relationship is."

Finding these recurring patterns gives scientists possible starting points for investigating the mechanisms behind aging and, eventually, identifying biological targets that might help improve health over time.

Dogs and Humans Share Similar Aging Signals

The researchers then asked whether the metabolic patterns seen in dogs also appeared in people. To find out, they compared their results with five large published studies of human mortality that used similar methods to examine metabolites.

Across those studies, the signals associated with earlier or later death were broadly similar to those found in dogs.

That consistency was one of the most striking results, adding evidence that dogs and humans share important features of the biology that underlies aging.

"Frequently, we know a little more about this in people than we do in dogs," Creevy said. "If we have the same targets, we'll be able to leverage human research to benefit dogs."

The similarities could allow scientists to use knowledge already gained from human research to improve canine health, while also using dogs to study how aging develops across an entire lifespan.

Why Dogs Are Valuable for Aging Research

Pet dogs offer several advantages for researchers studying aging. They share many parts of everyday life with humans, including their surroundings, diets and activity patterns. That overlap gives scientists an opportunity to examine how lifestyle and environment affect long-term health.

"One of the things we like most about learning from dogs as it pertains to aging is their widely varied lifestyles that mirror their owners' lifestyles in a way that's less true for other companion animals," Creevy said.

Cats, for example, often live more independent and relatively consistent lifestyles. Dogs are more likely to follow the routines, environments and activity patterns of the people they live with.

Their shorter lifespans provide another major advantage. Humans, on average, live into their 70s, while dogs typically live only 12-13 years. That difference allows researchers to observe aging and lifespan outcomes in dogs much more quickly than would be possible in human studies.

Inside the Dog Aging Project

The research was made possible by the Dog Aging Project, a nationwide, long-term study that follows pet dogs living with owners across the United States.

Owners who participate provide extensive information about their dogs' lives, while a subset also submit biological samples each year. Together, those contributions allow researchers to track changes in health and aging over time.

"The owners who enroll their dogs make everything possible," Creevy said. "The dedication and commitment of these owners to participate in research and discovery to better the health of dogs is remarkable."

Creevy said the latest findings are an early but important step toward understanding the mechanisms that influence aging. Researchers have now identified metabolic patterns associated with lifespan, giving them specific biological signals to investigate further.

"This is a starting point," she said. "We've identified these metabolites, and now we know where to start looking."

For people who own dogs, Creevy said the practical message is straightforward. Many of the same behaviors that promote healthier aging in people are also likely to benefit dogs.

"Keeping them on a healthy diet, at a healthy body weight, and preserving mobility and cognitive health -- just like we would do for ourselves," Creevy said. "What's good for us is probably good for them."

Source: ScienceDaily

Scientists solve the mystery of a brain “switch” that can trigger weight loss in opposite ways

 Cambridge researchers have uncovered why both activating and blocking the same brain receptor can promote weight loss. The findings may help scientists develop obesity treatments that are more effective and potentially work better in combination.

The mouse study, published in Nature Metabolism, found that the outcome depends on which part of the brain is targeted. Activating the receptor in the brainstem reduced appetite, while blocking the same receptor in the hypothalamus produced a similar weight loss effect through a different mechanism.

More than a billion people around the world are living with obesity, a condition that raises the risk of diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Losing weight can reduce some of these risks, but achieving substantial weight loss through diet and exercise alone can be difficult.

How Modern Weight Loss Drugs Target the Brain

A new generation of weight loss medications has emerged in recent years that act on specific receptors involved in appetite. By influencing these receptors, the drugs can reduce food intake, promote weight loss, and help regulate blood sugar.

Several widely used medications, including Wegovy and Ozempic, activate a protein receptor called the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R).

Other obesity treatments act on both GLP-1R and another receptor known as the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR). This second target has presented scientists with an unusual puzzle.

Some medications, including Mounjaro and Zepbound, activate GIPR. Others, such as MariTide, block it. Despite producing opposite effects on the same receptor, both approaches can help promote weight loss.

Researchers at the Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, set out to understand why. Their experiments in mice revealed that the two types of GIPR drugs work through different regions of the brain. The researchers also found that these approaches can increase weight loss when paired with certain GLP-1-based weight loss medicines.

Tracking GIPR Activity in Different Brain Regions

To identify the brain regions responsible for these effects, the team used genetically engineered mice in which GIPR had been selectively removed from specific areas.

One group lacked GIPR in the brainstem, the region at the base of the brain just above the spinal cord that is involved in appetite and nausea. Another group lacked the receptor in the hypothalamus, an important brain region involved in regulating hunger and body weight. A third group consisted of normal, unmodified mice that served as controls.

Source: ScienceDaily