Scientists have discovered a potential metabolic "kill switch" for weight loss after genetically modified mice lost 30 per cent of their body weight in just one week.
The groundbreaking study, published in Nature, involved mice that were modified to stop producing the amino acid cysteine whilst being fed a cysteine-free diet.
The research represents the first study to demonstrate that removing cysteine causes more dramatic weight loss than eliminating any other essential amino acid.
Cysteine is a sulphur-containing amino acid crucial for protein synthesis and various metabolic processes within the body.
Researchers believe that the body begins breaking down fat stores without cysteine present
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Researchers believe that without cysteine present, the body begins breaking down fat stores as it cannot efficiently use sugar molecules for energy production.
"Our surprising findings reveal that low cysteine levels triggered rapid fat loss in our study mice by activating a network of interconnected biological pathways," said co-senior study author Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Because cysteine is vital for oxidative phosphorylation, without it, the body cannot use sugar molecules efficiently and burns fat instead.
The study found that cysteine depletion also triggers stress responses that increase hormones which suppress appetite and break down fat-making enzymes.
This combination prevents fat storage and leads to weight loss through multiple mechanisms working simultaneously.
"While driving weight loss in the clinic remains a key future mission, we are most excited for the moment about the profound, fundamental aspects of metabolism revealed in this study," added Dr Nudler.
However, experts warn that this approach would be impractical and potentially unsafe for humans.
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A cysteine-free diet sparks dramatic weight loss in mice
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Cysteine is found in the majority of foods, meaning patients would need to consume specially formulated diets to achieve complete depletion.
"Given that achieving maximum cysteine deprivation weight loss in the mice was dependent on both diet and deletion of the gene, moving forward, we can now restore cysteine production genetically in specific cells or tissues," said co-senior author Dan R. Littman, MD, PhD.
Because cysteine is involved in numerous cellular pathways, removing it could increase the concentration of everyday toxins in the body.
Dr Shy Vishnumohan, a food scientist and dietitian, told GB News that cutting out cysteine would be "like turning off the power in a whole building" for humans, requiring "highly formulated lab-made" supplements that are "neither practical nor safe."
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