A Natural Ligand For PPAR-Gamma

Dysfunctions in PPAR-gamma are linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, so the receptor is an important target for type 2 diabetes drugs. Previous work had shown that synthetic binding molecules, or ligands, activate PPAR-gamma by making contacts with one specific part of the protein.

Yong Li, Eric Xu and colleagues now show that nitrated linoleic acid, a potent natural ligand, makes contacts with this same region but also with a second one, explaining how it is recognized by PPAR-gamma and why it has such high activity.

Author contacts:

H. Eric Xu (Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA)
E-mail: eric.xu@vai.org

Yong Li (University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA)
E-mail: yol21@pitt.edu

Abstract available online.

(C) Nature Structural & Molecular Biology press release.

Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza