Emerging roles of melanocortin receptor accessory proteins (MRAP and MRAP2) in physiology and pathophysiology.

Emerging roles of melanocortin receptor accessory proteins (MRAP and MRAP2) in physiology and pathophysiology. Gene. 2020 Jul 14;:144949 Authors: Berruien NNA, Smith CL Abstract In summary, genetic variants of MRAP are associated with severe familial glucocorticoid deficiency, however evidence is emerging that synthetic glucocorticoids may also disrupt ACTH and MRAP expression resulting in adrenal inflammation. MRAP2 genetic variants are associated with severe obesity but the phenotypes are subtly different to the phenotypes observed with MC4R genetic variants. There is a great deal of interest in the development of melanocortin therapeutics to treat obesity, as evidenced by setmelanotide, and fully understanding the role of MRAP2 and the interactions with both melanocortin receptors and other GCPR would be of great value. The use of the MRAP2 knockout and transgenic models have aided understanding of interactions with the different MCs in metabolic regulation, feeding behaviour and energy homeostasis. MRAP is detected in areas with absent or extremely low MC2 expression, potentially it also may bind to non-melanocortin receptors. Further studies with transgenic models and insights from studies of genetic variants may provide further insights into the MRAP physiological processes. PMID: 32679290 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Gene - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Gene Source Type: research