Background Over the past 20 years, insights from human and mouse genetics have
illuminated the central role of the brain leptin-melanocortin pathway in the control of …

The skin is a known target organ for the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived
neuropeptides α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), β-endorphin, and ACTH and …

Coat colors in the chestnut horse, the yellow Labrador retriever, the red fox, and one type of
yellow mouse are due to recessive alleles at the extension locus. Similarly, dominant alleles …

This volume covers all aspects of melanin pigmentation, providing a concise,
comprehensive picture of new knowledge gained at the frontiers of research. It draws …

Abstract α-MSH is a tridecapeptide derived from proopiomelanocortin. Many studies over the
last few years have provided evidence that α-MSH has potent protective and …

Melanin, the pigment produced by specialized cells, melanocytes, is responsible for skin
and hair color. Skin pigmentation is an important protective mechanism against the DNA …

Ultraviolet radiation is a well established epidemiologic risk factor for malignant melanoma.
This observation has been linked to the relative resistance of normal melanocytes to …

POMC (31,000 MW) is localized to the pituitary, brain, skin, and other peripheral sites. The
particular enzyme profile present within a cell dictates the nature of the hormonal ligand …

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and its binding receptors (the melanocortin
receptors) play important roles in maintaining ocular tissue integrity and immune …

Obesity is an increasingly important global health problem that lacks current treatment
options. The melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) is a target for obesity therapies because its …