Myoglobin Identified as a Key Regulator of the Body’s Energy-Burning Fat

Using the first adipose tissue-specific myoglobin knockout mouse model, the team found that loss of myoglobin in fat tissue reduced energy expenditure, impaired cold adaptation, disrupted lipid metabolism, and markedly increased susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Mechanistically, myoglobin was required for efficient fatty acid utilization and mitochondrial metabolism in thermogenic adipocytes. Importantly, restoring myoglobin expression in brown fat improved metabolic parameters and reduced weight gain in obese mice, while increasing myoglobin in human adipocytes enhanced fat breakdown and mitochondrial activity.