Melanocortin 4 receptor is a transcriptional target of nescient helix-loop-helix-2.

ABSTRACT: Melanocortin 4 receptor (Mc4r/MC4R) is a G-Protein coupled receptor that is expressed in the hypothalamus and implicated in body weight control. Mutations in MC4R are the most frequent cause of monogenetic forms of human obesity. Despite its importance, the MC4R signaling pathways and transcriptional regulation underlying the melanocortin pathway are far from being fully understood. The transcription factor nescient helix-loop-helix 2 (Nhlh2) influences the melanocortin pathway through transcriptional regulation of prohormone convertase I, which influences the production of melanocortin peptides. In the present study, Nhlh2's role as a transcriptional regulator of Mc4r has been demonstrated. Nhlh2 knockout mice have reduced hypothalamic expression of Mc4r mRNA, suggesting that it could be

SUBMITTER: Wankhade UD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3143283 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature