Title:Genetic Variation of de novo Lipogenesis Pathway and Individual Sus-ceptibility to Obesity
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Author(s): Harry F. Luglio
Affiliation:
Keywords:
de novo lipogenesis, FASN, fat, genetic, obesity, SCD-1, SNP.
Abstract: Obesity is a worldwide problem that adversely affects human health. Genetic
factors have been suggested to play role in the development of obesity. SNPs on proteins
involved in de novo lipogenesis had been proposed to affect individual susceptibility for
obesogenic environment. De novo lipogenesis is the process of converting carbohydrate absorbed
from dietary intake into fat and this process usually occurs after a high carbohydrate
intake. In modern society, where foods and beverages with highly processed carbohydrates
are getting affordable, understanding the role of genetic factors has become more crucial. In
this review, several genes that were previously reported to influence the risk of obesity has been pointed out.
This observation was supported by previous findings in animal model which showed that genetic knock-out
of genes involved in de novo lipogenesis (FASN and SCD-1) was found to be related to changes in obesity
phenotype. Those genes not only produce enzymes which directly convert carbohydrate metabolite into fatty
acid, but also influence the production of lipogenic enzymes.