Overview

• Two Science studies published July 31 pinpointed conserved noncoding cis-regulatory elements near the FTO locus that act as genetic switches for hibernation-associated metabolic states.
• CRISPR deletion of individual regulatory elements in mice altered weight gain, basal metabolic rate, foraging behavior and recovery of body temperature after torpor.
• Researchers have launched follow-up experiments to delete multiple hibernation-linked elements at once in mice to evaluate combined effects on metabolism and torpor-like traits.
• Investigators are exploring drug-based approaches to modulate human hibernation hub genes as potential therapies for obesity, type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
• Translating the findings into humans faces significant challenges due to physiological differences from hibernators, sex-specific gene effects and the complexity of safely targeting regulatory elements.