The melanocortin receptors: lessons from knockout models

AA Butler, RD Cone - Neuropeptides, 2002 - Elsevier
Identifying the role of the melanocortin system in regulating energy homeostasis has relied
on both genetic and pharmacological studies. The key findings included 1) that the coat
color phenotype in the lethal yellow (AY/a) mouse is due to antagonism of the melanocortin-
1 receptor (MC1R) by the agouti gene product; 2) the MC3R and MC4R are expressed in
CNS centers involved in energy homeostasis, and 3) the combined results of
pharmacological studies showing that agouti is an antagonist of the MC4R and transgenic …