Discovery of a Key Gene That Influences Liver's Energy Storage Strategy

A recent study published in Science Advances has shed light on the crucial role of a specific gene in determining how the liver manages energy storage—a process vital for overall health and the regulation of metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes. Led by Dr. Kate Townsend Creasy from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, the research zeroed in on the gene PPP1R3B. This gene functions as a regulatory switch, guiding the liver to store energy either as glycogen, a form of sugar, or as triglycerides, a type of fat.

The study found that increased activity of PPP1R3B promotes the storage of energy primarily as glycogen. Conversely, when the gene's activity diminishes, the liver tends to store more energy as fat. This balance between glycogen and fat storage is critical because it influences blood sugar and lipid levels, impacting metabolic health.

Genomic studies in humans have also linked mutations in PPP1R3B to metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease, though the precise mechanisms remained unclear until now. Dr. Creasy describes PPP1R3B as a "metabolic switch"—directing whether the liver rapidly stores energy for immediate use or for longer-term storage as fat. The research demonstrated that genetic manipulations of the gene in mice and cell models affected how efficiently they used glucose and fat for energy.

Understanding this gene’s function opens new avenues for personalized nutrition and therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic diseases, based on an individual’s genetic makeup.