The molecular genetics of the melanocortin pathway and energy homeostasis.
The CNS melanocortin pathway plays an important role in the control of body weight. Two papers in this issue of Cell Metabolism, Lee et al., 2006 and Biebermann et al., 2006, suggest that beta MSH--a product of POMC processing--plays an unanticipated role in this pathway in humans.
Leibel
Rudolph L
RL
Columbia University, Division of Molecular Genetics and Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, 1150 St. Nicholas Avenue, Room 620, New York, New York 10032, USA.
D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism*; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D019824:beta-MSH / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C470072:MC4R protein, human; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D019824:beta-MSH; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin