By manipulating levels of the protein BMP-7, Harvard Medical School researchers were able to generate a larger store of "brown" fat cells that burn calories--a pathway that could be used to pursue new therapies to fight obesity and a range of metabolic diseases. Mice injected with the protein reportedly developed more of the brown fat tissue and gained less weight. Obesity report [1]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercebioresearcher.com/story/brown-fat-may-be-key-curing-obesity/2008-08-26