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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Mice eat less and explore more after intake of certain amino acids

The response to ‘non-essential’ amino acids, which can be made in the body, might help animals to seek out more important nutrients.
Confocal light micrograph of orexin receptors (red), also known as hypocretins, in the brain.

Orexin receptors (red) dot brain neurons. Scientists have now uncovered the effects of non-essential amino acids acting on these neurons. Credit: C.J.Guerin, PhD, MRC Toxicology Unit/Science Photo Library

Consuming amino acids that can be made in the body leads mice to eat less and explore their surroundings more — an effect that might offer evolutionary benefits1.

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Nature 603, 768 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-00830-z

References

  1. Viskaitis, P. et al. Curr. Biol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.02.067 (2022)

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