Pythons feast today, and fast for months. They don’t nibble; instead, they swallow their prey whole— prey like an antelope. After that, they can go for months without eating. Now, scientists have identified a molecule in their blood that is crucial to support this type of metabolism, which they also claim might pave the way for a new class of obesity drugs.
When this python metabolite, which spikes in their blood after eating, was given to obese mice, they lost their appetite and shunned food, rapidly losing weight. The scientists find the effects similar to those of Wegovy, an obesity management drug.
“Obviously, we are not snakes,” said Dr. Jonathan Long, an associate professor of pathology at Stanford University and co-author of the research. “But maybe by studying these animals, we can identify molecules or metabolic pathways that also affect human metabolism.”
Burmese python can grow over 5 meters (16ft) in length, and weigh close to 100kg (220 lbs). Burmese python can eat the same amount of food as their body weight. A few hours post-meal, a python’s heart expands by 25%, and its metabolism speeds up 4,000x to help it digest its meal. They can then go for 12 to 18 months without eating, with little to no ill effects.
Scientists focussed on identifying the metabolites involved in the sudden heart growth in pythons after they eat. They examined blood from young Burmese pythons, weighing about 1.5-2.5 kg, before and after a meal consisting 25% of their body weight. Before feeding the snakes, the laboratory put them on a fast for 28 days.
The scientists identified more than 200 molecules that spiked inside the pythons’ blood within hours of eating, and one that rose by 1,000 times. This molecule, called pTOS is produced by the snake’s gut bacteria, and is also present in trace amounts in human urine. Long wondered if this metabolite had any effects on the physiology of the snake after eating.
However, on administering pTOS to laboratory mice, no obvious effects on energy expenditure, or organ size was noticed by the scientists. Instead, the metabolite regulated appetite and the feeding behaviors in the mice. Obese mice that received pTOS ate significantly less than control mice, and after four weeks, they lost 9% of their body weight.
The molecule seem to work differently than Wegovy, a class of medication known as GLP-1 drugs, which partly work by slowing down the emptying of stomach, making people feel full for longer. However, GLP-1 drugs are also linked to nausea, constipation and stomach pain. pTOS have similar overall effects as it reduces appetite, but instead of interfering with the digestive system, it affects the hypothalamus located in the brain, which is the control center for appetite. This feature completely nullifies most side effects associated with GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy, says Prof Leslie Leinwand, a biologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, who was also a co-author of the research.
Leinwand advocates further research to ascertain if the findings can be applied clinically, but that since pTOS occurs in human naturally, it is most likely safe.
Till then, let’s be mindful of what we eat, and how much. Being conscious is better than looking for a cure.
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