Metformin hydrochloride

Liu X, et al. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 2025, 180, 104023.

This study explored the effect of metformin hydrochloride on lipid metabolism in the oleaginous fungus Mucor circinelloides WJ11. Exogenous addition of 4 g/L metformin hydrochloride to the growth medium led to a 21.30% reduction in total fatty acid content. Transcriptional analysis revealed upregulation of AMPK subunit genes (Snf-α1, Snf-γ1, Snf-γ3) and suppression of lipid biosynthesis genes (acl, acc1, acc2). Enzymatic assays further demonstrated inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH), reducing precursor (acetyl-CoA) and cofactor (NADPH) availability. These findings indicate that metformin hydrochloride modulates lipid biosynthesis through AMPK pathway activation and enzymatic suppression, suggesting its potential as a metabolic regulator in microbial lipid production.

Chai J, et al. Analysis, 2025, 254, 116584.

In this study, metformin hydrochloride was evaluated for its mechanistic role in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) through proteomics and bioinformatics approaches. Kidney tissues from db/db mice were analyzed post-treatment to identify differential protein expression patterns. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic profiling revealed significant alterations in proteins associated with the butanoate metabolism pathway, notably AACS, ACSM3, EHHADH, and HMGCS2. Bioinformatics analysis further confirmed strong molecular interactions between metformin and these proteins (binding energies < -5 kcal/mol), suggesting direct regulatory effects. These findings imply that metformin may exert renoprotective effects by modulating mitochondrial energy metabolism and inflammatory responses via the butanoate pathway, offering insights into its therapeutic action beyond glycemic control. This experimental approach underscores the utility of integrative proteomics in elucidating drug mechanisms in complex metabolic diseases.