McGill Scientists Discover Bone-Strengthening Switch

Scientists at McGill University, led by Lawrence Kazak and with contributions from Alba Guarné and Marc McKee, have discovered a molecular 'switch' in brown fat that activates a powerful calorie-burning system. This breakthrough, published in Nature (journal), centers on glycerol activating the TNAP enzyme, triggering an alternative heat-producing pathway. The findings have immediate significance for bone health, as TNAP is crucial for bone formation. Mutations in TNAP cause hypophosphatasia, a 'soft bones' disorder. The research, building on earlier work by Marc McKee and José-Luis Millán, suggests new treatments by increasing TNAP activity through its glycerol pocket using natural or synthetic compounds. Collaborating institutions included Queen Mary University of London, Northeastern University, Sanford Burnham Prebys, and Maine Health Institute for Research, with funding from Canada — Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canada — Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé. Dozens of potential drug candidates have already been identified for further study.