Tel Aviv, Aug. 25 -- A research team at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has discovered a cellular mechanism acting as a "metabolic control system" that regulates energy use and blood sugar levels, paving the way for next-generation treatments for metabolic diseases, diabetes, and even cancer.

The study, led by Prof. Ehud Ohana and PhD student Noa Yehoshua, identified two key transport proteins in liver cells--NaCT and Glut--that work in perfect coordination to monitor nutrient availability and optimise energy management. The findings, published in Nature Communications, reveal that cells actively "negotiate" their nutrient intake rather than passively responding to hormones like insulin.

Experiments in mice showed that targeting this...