The prevalence of obesity has tripled over the past four decades, imposing an enormous
burden on people's health. Polygenic (or common) obesity and rare, severe, early-onset …

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 plasma proteome can help bridge the gap between the genome and diseases. Here we
describe genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of plasma protein levels measured with …

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) system represents a primary cell-signaling
pathway throughout systems and across species. PKA facilitates the actions of hormones …

Two intermingled hypothalamic neuron populations specified by expression of agouti-
related peptide (AGRP) or pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) positively and negatively influence …

New information regarding neuronal circuits that control food intake and their hormonal
regulation has extended our understanding of energy homeostasis, the process whereby …

Neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) that express agouti‐related peptide
(AgRP) govern a critical aspect of survival: the drive to eat. Equally important to survival is …

Leptin, the gene product of the obese gene, may play an important role in regulating body
weight by signalling the size of the adipose tissue mass. Plasma leptin was found to be …

Abstract The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4-R) is a G protein–coupled, seven-
transmembrane receptor expressed in the brain. Inactivation of this receptor by gene …

Cutaneous melanin pigment plays a critical role in camouflage, mimicry, social
communication, and protection against harmful effects of solar radiation. Melanogenesis is …