04/24/2026
New research from Joslin Diabetes Center highlights a breakthrough in how the body regulates metabolism.
In a study published in Nature Metabolism, scientists identified a molecular “switch” that controls whether brown fat burns calories or stays inactive. The team found that hormonal signals can rapidly reshape the 3D structure of DNA in brown fat cells—activating key metabolic genes—with the protein H2A.Z playing a central role.
Importantly, this mechanism was also confirmed in human cells and linked to genetic risk for obesity and metabolic disease.
A promising step toward new therapies targeting one of the body’s natural calorie-burning systems. Read more about it, here: https://joslin.org/news-stories/all-news-stories/news/2026/04/study-uncovers-3d-dna-switch-in-brown-fat
Joslin researchers identify a 3D DNA switch that controls brown fat’s calorie‑burning power, opening new paths to fight obesity and diabetes.