Python metabolomics uncovers a conserved postprandial metabolite and gut-brain feeding pathway - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #gut-brain axis
- #obesity
- #metabolomics
- Pythons exhibit extreme feeding and fasting patterns, making them a unique model for studying postprandial responses.
- The metabolite para-tyramine-O-sulphate (pTOS) increases over 1,000-fold in pythons after a meal, produced in a microbiome-dependent manner.
- pTOS activates neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) in both pythons and mice, influencing energy balance.
- In mice, pTOS administration suppresses food intake and body weight, showing potential for treating obesity.
- pTOS is present in human blood and increases post-meal, suggesting a conserved metabolic pathway across species.
- A provisional patent has been filed for pTOS in treating cardiometabolic diseases, with some authors having competing interests.