Researchers at the University of Michigan discover precise forms of key proteins involved in obesity

Researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have helped unravel the precise shape of proteins that are important in human metabolism. This finding could open the door to better treatments for obesity and other metabolic disorders.

The study was published today in this journal Science. It focused on a brain protein called the melanocortin 4 receptor, or MC4R. Receptors help regulate the body’s energy balance by controlling the amount of energy stored as fat.

Mutations in the gene encoding the MC4R protein are the most common genetic cause of early-onset obesity, affecting 1 in 1,500.

Roger Corne, director of the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute, and scientists in his lab discovered the MC4R and have been studying its biology and pharmacology for over 25 years. Since then, at least four drugs have been developed that target the human melanocortin receptor. One of these drugs, setmelanotide, acts on MC4R to treat a rare form of syndromic obesity. Korn, a senior author of the study, says it is not as potent as treating more common forms of obesity, such as dietary obesity.

Research spans three universities. Raymond Stevens, director of the Bridge Institute at the University of Southern California, Michelson Center, Forevergent Bioscience Center, and founding director of the iHuman Institute at Shanghai Tech University, structures a class of proteins called G protein-coupled receptors. MC4R belongs to this class.

Stevens and his team turned to Korn and his colleagues when they began to study the structure of the MC4R.

“We were able to provide knowledge of MC4R to further our structural biology research,” says Korn, who is also a professor of molecular physiology at U-M Medical School. “And the key structural findings from researchers at USC and Shanghai Tech help answer more questions about how this receptor functions in human metabolism.

Researchers have discovered an unexpected property of proteins that sheds new light on how they bind and interact with other molecules.

For example, we have found calcium ions that bind to both MC4R and the primary molecule to which the receptor binds. This example of bound calcium ions was the first for Stevens and his group to determine the structure of many members of this large class of proteins.

“At first, it looked like a scientific curiosity,” says Stevens, a senior author of the study. “But subsequent experiments have revealed that calcium is actually needed for receptor function. Imagine the situation of a lock and a key. In this case, there is a large key and a small key, I found that I needed both to unlock the receptor. “

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, Shanghai Municipal Government, and the GPCR Consortium.

Stevens is the founder of a GPCR structure-based drug discovery company called ShouTi. Corn is the founder of a melanocortin receptor drug discovery company called Courage Therapeutics.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos