title: Molecular screening of both the promoter and the protein coding regions in the human ob gene in Japanese obese subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the molecular mechanism of obesity has been poorly understood, recent studies indicate that leptin plays a critical role in regulating both food intake and body weight. Because obesity decreases the sensitivity to insulin, the human ob gene is presumed to be one of the candidate genes for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) associated with obesity. Although the protein coding region in the ob gene has been screened for mutations, the promoter region and the non-coding first exon have not yet been studied. We investigated the involvement of the human ob gene, especially mutations at the promoter region and the non-coding first exon, in the development of NIDDM associated with obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised 60 Japanese obese subjects with NIDDM (body mass index (BMI) 43.6 > or = BMI > or = 26.4, 29.0+/-0.41 (mean+/-S.E.M.)) and 24 obese individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (30 > or = BMI > or = 26.4, 27.1+/-0.22).
  
  
  METHODS
  Mutations at both the promoter region and all three exons in the human ob gene were screened by the single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis. When aberrantly migrated bands were recognized, the PCR-amplified DNA fragment was directly sequenced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the protein coding region a silent mutation in the second exon was detected. The non-coding first exon and the about 100 bp 5'-flanking region of the gene which contains a proximal CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein site were screened, but no mutations were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that no mutations in either the promoter region at the about 100 bp 5'-flanking region of the gene, or in any of the three exons, are involved in the development of NIDDM or IGT associated with obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shigemoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Isse
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masuzaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshimasa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosoda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakao
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics