Australian researchers have discovered an enzyme which allows...

Australian researchers have discovered an enzyme which allows fat cells to grow, a finding they hope will lead to the development of a new drug to combat obesity.

Scientists at the University of Queensland are keeping the identity of the molecule a secret as they carry out laboratory tests to better understand how the enzyme works.

Biochemist Jon Whitehead described the finding as extremely exciting considering obesity drugs already on the market offered patients only limited benefit.

"We've been doing experiments in the laboratory which show that, in the laboratory at least, we can very effectively inhibit this enzyme and inhibit fat cell growth," Dr Whitehead said.

"We're excited about the potential. The drugs currently in use are really quite poor. They work but with very limited efficiency.

"There's clearly room for improved drugs."

Dr Whitehead, of the university's Centre for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, said the next step would be to secure funding and ethics committee approval to conduct studies on mice.



Scientists only identified the role of the enzyme in fat cell growth while conducting research in a parallel field.

"This has come from some studies that we've been doing in a different area that have allowed us to make a lateral step and think that this enzyme may be involved in this process," Dr Whitehead said.

When asked when the research was likely to lead to a new obesity drug, he replied: "No idea".

"There may be some sophisticated chemistry required to target the right regions of the body," Dr Whitehead said.

Such a drug would benefit up to a billion people worldwide affected by obesity.

Doctors consider obesity a serious health risk.

Medical complications associated with obesity include diabetes, osteoarthritis, hypertension and sleep apnoea.

Dr Whitehead recently won the Trailblazer 2004 award run by UniQuest, the University of Queensland's commercialisation company.

UniQuest managing director David Henderson said the company had a provisional patent and was working to secure an investment to progress the research.

"We believe it has significant commercial potential," Mr Henderson said.

© 2004 AAP
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