Exploring the Potential of Calebin-A in Targeting Obesity-Related Genes and Pathways

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Bioinformatics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Obesity is a global health crisis linked to metabolic disorders.
• Calebin-A, from Curcuma species, is a promising compound for obesity management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the molecular mechanisms of Calebin-A in obesity using bioinformatics.
• To identify key genes and pathways targeted by Calebin-A.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of transcriptomic data from obese and normal adipose tissue (GSE286454).
• Functional enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction network construction (STRING).
• External data validation (GSE59034), target prediction, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations.

Main Results:

• Identified 317 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and highlighted pathways in lysosomal activity, immune response, and apoptosis.
• Discovered nine hub genes, with CTSB, CTSZ, GRN, and CTSA consistently upregulated.
• Calebin-A showed favorable binding affinities to target proteins, particularly CTSZ, suggesting convergence on immune, lysosomal, and cytoskeletal processes.

Conclusions:

• Calebin-A targets genes and proteins involved in energy balance and inflammation.
• Findings provide a foundation for understanding Calebin-A's anti-obesity potential and for therapeutic development.