January 25, 2008

US scientists study obesity in chickens
 

Scientists are researching on how to produce chickens of the ideal weight while minimising excess fat.

Genes responsible for regulating both energy use by individual cells and the food intake of birds, have been recently identified and sequenced by scientists from Agricultural Research Service. It was also showed that the genes function in different tissues throughout the body of the broiler chicken.

The key component of the biomedical pathway that maintains energy balance in the bird's body is an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase, or AMPK.

In animals, obesity results when they consumes more food energy (calories) than their body requires, with excess energy mostly stored as fat.

Poultry breeders have bred fast-growing and meat-plentiful chickens. But, according to the researchers, modern broiler/breeder chickens have the tendency to overeat and it is easy for the birds to become obese if they are given unrestricted access to feed.

AMPK has a central role in sensing cellular energy levels as it begins a series of events that affect food intake and metabolism of fat, carbohydrate and protein.

According to animal scientist Monika Proszkowiec-Weglarz, AMPK is a "molecular fuel gauge" and a master metabolic regulator in cells as it responds to fluctuations in cellular energy levels and of specific nutrients and hormones outside the cells.