The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a member of the seven membrane-spanning G protein-coupled receptor superfamily and signals through the activation of adenylyl cyclase. The MC4R mutations are the most common known monogenic cause of human obesity. However, no such mutations have been found in Japanese obese subjects. Here we report a novel homozygous missense mutation of MC4R (G98R) in a no...

Obesity is a multifactorial disease whose onset and development are shaped by the individual genetic background. The melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R) involved in regulation of food intake energy expenditure. Some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) this related to obesity metabolic risk factors. present study was undertaken assess relationship between three polymorphism SNPs, namely, rs17...

BACKGROUND Heterozygous mutations in melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) are the most frequent genetic cause of obesity. Bariatric surgery is a successful treatment for severe obesity. The mechanisms of weight loss after bariatric surgery are not well understood. METHODS Ninety-two patients who had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery were screened for MC4R mutations. We compared percent excess...

CONTEXT Mutations in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) represent the commonest genetic form of obesity and are associated with hyperphagia. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate whether melanocortin signaling modulates anticipatory food reward by studying the brain activation response to food cues in individuals with MC4R mutations. Design/Setting/Participants/Main Outcome Measu...

BACKGROUND The genetic characterization of obese individuals could clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying body weight regulation and lead to targeted therapy. Here we report variants of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) genes detected in severely obese adults living in southern Italy. METHODS A total of 196 unrelated nondiabetic severely obese individuals ...

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), a centrally expressed G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), is essential for the maintenance of long-term energy balance in humans. Mutations in MC4R are the most common genetic cause of obesity. Since activation of this receptor leads to a decrease in food intake, MC4R is also a major therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity. Control of MC4R activity in ...

OBJECTIVE Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) are involved in energy homeostasis in the rat. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of MC4R and AgRP mRNAs in arcuate nucleus (ARC) during long term malnutrition of female ovariectomized rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten female ovariectomized rats were divided into two equal groups (n=6) of normal ...

Background: Selection based on traits such as average daily gain (ADG) and carcass quality in commercial pig populations have drawn attention of swine breeders due to the correlation with growth consumer preference for composition, respectively. The association between melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene, which encodes G-protein-coupled ADG quality, been well documented. study was conducted det...

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is well recognized as an important mediator of body weight homeostasis. Activation of MC4R causes dramatic weight loss in rodent models, and mutations in human are associated with obesity. This makes MC4R a logical target for pharmacological therapy for the treatment of obesity. However, previous studies in rodents and humans have observed a broad array of sid...

A chimeric protein comprised of melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) and the green fluorescent protein (GFP) was created for studying receptor/ligand localization and trafficking. The ligand binding affinities and second messenger stimulation induced by MC4R-GFP closely resembled those of the wild-type receptor, suggesting functional integrity of the chimeric protein. As observed with a confocal micr...