Top Stories Tamfitronics Until now, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) has been known as a compound produced by the liver to be used as fuel. In a new study, researchers discovered that BHB also participates in another metabolic pathway; in this case, an enzyme called CNDP2 joins BHB to amino acids; furthermore, the most abundant BHB-amino acid, N-β-hydroxybutyryl phenylalanine (BHB-Phe), can influence body weight and metabolism in animal models.β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is an abundant ketone body. To date, all known pathways of BHB metabolism involve the interconversion of BHB and primary energy intermediates. Moya-Garzon et al. identified a previously undescribed BHB secondary metabolic pathway via CNDP2-dependent enzymatic conjugation of BHB and free amino acids. Image credit: Moya-Garzon et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.10.032.Mammals have evolved complex nutrient-responsive pathways that link the availability of external energy sources to internal metabolic homeostasis.These pathways...
