Multiple lines of investigations demonstrated that the melanocortin‐4 receptor (MC4R) is a
critical regulator of energy homeostasis from fishes to humans. Clinical studies in humans …

This paper reviews aspects of our research, focusing on the role of the melanocortin system
in the central regulation of feeding and energy balance, which was begun in 1997. It …

Over the past century, prevalent models of energy and glucose homeostasis have been
developed from a better understanding of the neural circuits underlying obesity and …

Central administration of melanocortin 3 and 4 receptor (MC3/4-R) agonists increases
energy expenditure, with the hypothalamus commonly held as the primary site of action. It is …

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are regulated by numerous proteins including
kinases, G-proteins, β-arrestins and accessory proteins. Several families of GPCR accessory …

OBJECTIVE—Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) peptides processed from
proopiomelanocortin (POMC) regulate energy homeostasis by activating neuronal …

Hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons help regulate long-term energy stores.
POMC neurons are also found in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), a region regulating …

The hypothalamus is the focus of many peripheral signals and neural pathways that control
energy homeostasis and body weight. Emphasis has moved away from anatomical concepts …

The discovery a decade ago of the murine agouti gene was intended to bring scientists a
step closer to understanding the complexities of mammalian pigmentation. The first obesity …

The melanocortins are a group of small protein hormones derived by post-translational
cleavage of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene product. The known melanocortin …