A Method for Treating Diabetes and Obesity Might be Found

A protein (enzyme) causing diabetes and obesity has been found by a Korean student studying abroad. Accordingly, a method that can essentially cure and prevent diseases such as obesity is expected.

A research team led by Uhm Sung-hee (age 32) in a doctoral course at the Friedrich Miescher Biomedical Research Center of Basel University, Switzerland, announced on August 12 that it found that when a mouse is fed fatty food, the food causes diabetes and obesity because an enzyme called S6K1 is excessively activated in an abnormal way.

A related dissertation is introduced in the worldwide science magazine “Nature,” published in the U.K., and Uhm was recorded as the writer who contributed more than anyone else among 11 writers.

S6K1 has been known to play the role of an agent helping cells to grow when nutrition such as amino acids and insulin were provided, but this is the first time the fact has been shown that this enzyme is related to diabetes and obesity.

In an international phone call with Dong-a Ilbo, Uhm said, “We found that a S6K1-lacking mouse had notably reduced fat than did a normal mouse, and that its insulin function was normal after checking its fat condition in its body by dissecting it ourselves.”

Uhm is working towards his doctorate with this dissertation in September and is going to take a post-doctorate research course in the U.S.

Professor Han Jung-hwan in the Pharmacy Department of Sungkyunkwan University said, “Eighty-five percent of diabetes patients are obese. If medicines restraining S6K1’s activation are developed based on this result, it will greatly help in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and obesity.”

Uhm has researched at Basel University in Switzerland since 1999 after receiving a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the Department of Pharmacy at Sungkyunkwan University.

wolfkim@donga.com