Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2025

Quantitative Determination of De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis in Brown Adipose Tissue Using Deuterium Oxide
07:34

Quantitative Determination of De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis in Brown Adipose Tissue Using Deuterium Oxide

Published on: May 12, 2023

1.1K

Fatty acid overproduction by gut commensal microbiota exacerbates obesity

Tadashi Takeuchi1, Keishi Kameyama2, Eiji Miyauchi3

  • 1Laboratory for Intestinal Ecosystem, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.

Cell Metabolism
|January 18, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Gut bacteria like Fusimonas intestini promote obesity by producing fatty acids that damage the gut barrier. This leads to metabolic endotoxemia and facilitates diet-induced obesity in humans and mice.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Metabolic Diseases
  • Gut Microbiome Research

Background:

  • Gut microbes influence obesity and related conditions.
  • The precise mechanisms, particularly involving microbial metabolites, remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of specific gut microbes and their metabolites in obesity.
  • To elucidate the mechanistic link between gut commensals and diet-induced obesity.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Fusimonas intestini colonization in obese humans and mice.
  • Investigating microbial gene expression related to lipid production (e.g., fadR).
  • Monocolonization experiments with engineered E. coli to assess lipid metabolism impact.

Main Results:

  • Fusimonas intestini is abundant in obese and hyperglycemic individuals.
  • This microbe produces long-chain fatty acids, including elaidate, promoting obesity.
  • Altered microbial lipid metabolism, specifically FadR regulation, exacerbates metabolic phenotypes.
  • Microbe-derived fatty acids compromise intestinal barrier integrity, leading to metabolic endotoxemia.

Conclusions:

  • Gut commensals can drive obesity through the overproduction of specific lipids.
  • Fusimonas intestini and its lipid metabolites represent a novel mechanistic link to obesity.
  • Targeting microbial lipid metabolism may offer therapeutic strategies for obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Keywords:
Lachnospiraceaegut microbiomemetabolic endotoxemiamicrobial metaboliteobesitytight junctiontrans-fatty acid

More Related Videos

Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation07:46

Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation

Published on: April 3, 2017

25.4K
Isolation of Adipose Tissue Immune Cells07:09

Isolation of Adipose Tissue Immune Cells

Published on: May 22, 2013

36.4K

Related Concept Videos

Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
569
Overview of Lipid Metabolism01:24

Overview of Lipid Metabolism

Lipid metabolism is a crucial process in the human body that involves the synthesis and degradation of lipids. This process is essential for energy production, cell membrane formation, and hormone production, among other functions.
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
2.0K
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism01:28

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
31.0K
Lipid Digestion01:06

Lipid Digestion

Lipids are large molecules that are generally not water-soluble. Since most of the digestive enzymes in the human body are water-based, there are specific steps the body must take to break down lipids and make them available for use.
92.5K
Lipid Catabolism01:25

Lipid Catabolism

Triglycerides serve as crucial long-term energy storage molecules in microorganisms, providing a dense source of metabolic energy. Their breakdown is mediated by lipases, which hydrolyze triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. Each of these components follows distinct metabolic pathways, ultimately contributing to ATP synthesis and cellular energy homeostasis.Glycerol MetabolismGlycerol, released from triglyceride hydrolysis, is phosphorylated by glycerol kinase to form...
131
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction01:24

Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction

The pancreas, an elongated and flat gland situated behind the stomach, serves a vital function in digesting food and managing blood sugar levels.
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
132