Page 123 - The Manga Guide to Biochemistry

So insulin regulates the eating behavior and fat level of an animal via the
hypothalamus.

Brain

Hypothalamus

Suppresses
hunger

Insulin Insulin Insulin receptors
Binds are embedded in the

cell wall.

The urge to eat is suppressed by the nervous system when insulin binds with the
insulin receptors in the hypothalamus.

The experiments scientists have done to prove this may surprise you—for
instance, lab mice that were prevented from producing insulin receptors ended
up becoming really obese.

Wow! Instructions go to my brain to keep me from eating too much? That’s crazy—
it’s like my own body is playing a trick on me!

There’s also a protein called leptin, which is only created in adipose tissue, that can
notify the brain of an accumulation of fat via leptin receptors in the hypothalamus,
much like insulin receptors. This also suppresses hunger.

I see. So both insulin and leptin are important proteins for controlling how much we
want to eat.

Biochemistry in Our Everyday Lives 109