All articles tagged with #ptos
Scientists from CU Boulder and Stanford identified a python-derived gut metabolite, para‑tyramine‑O‑sulfate (pTOS), that after being tested in mice triggered weight loss through hypothalamic pathways without muscle or energy loss, suggesting a potential natural alternative to GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs and prompting Arkana Therapeutics to pursue a synthetic version.
Researchers found that after meals ball pythons exhibit a 1000-fold rise in pTOS, a gut-bacteria–derived metabolite. In mice, high doses of pTOS reduced appetite and caused weight loss without typical GLP-1 drug side effects, likely by activating neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus. While promising, translating this to humans is still early, and the study in Nature Metabolism notes many more metabolites to explore.
Researchers identified pTOS, a metabolite that spikes in Burmese pythons after large meals and, when given to mice, suppresses appetite without energy loss or major side effects. The compound is produced from tyrosine by gut bacteria and liver and is detectable in small amounts in humans after meals, signaling a potential new pathway for weight-loss drugs inspired by extreme metabolism, though translating this to humans will require extensive testing and safety evaluation.
Researchers identified pTOS, a metabolite produced by python gut bacteria that surges after a meal (more than 1,000-fold); when given to obese mice, it suppressed appetite, leading to about 9% body weight loss over 28 days, without notable changes in energy expenditure or organ size. Unlike GLP-1 drugs that slow gastric emptying, pTOS appears to act on the hypothalamus to regulate hunger. The molecule also exists at low levels in human urine, suggesting potential safety, though clinical applicability requires more research; the findings were published in Nature Metabolism.