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Stem Cell Related Patent Number US6639123
| Title: | Melanocortin-3 receptor deficient cells, non-human trangenic animals and methods of selecting compounds which regulate body weight | | Inventors: | Van der Ploeg, Leonardus H. T.; Sctoch Plains, NJ, USA | | Summary: | This invention describes novel methods by which cells and non-human transgenic animals have been engineered to be deficient in the gene encoding the melcanocortin-3 receptor protein (MC-3R). MC-3R deficient transgenic animals have increased fatmass and reduced lean body mass, showing that the MC-3R protein is involved in the regulation of body fat and muscle mass. Specifically this is a transgenic mouse whose somatic cells and germ cells are homozygous for an altered MC-3R gene which encodes a non-functional MC-3R protein, wherein the mouse exhibits an obesity syndrome at 6 months of age. These MC-3R deficient transgenic mice transmit the altered gene to their offspring, and they can be used to select for and test potential modulators of MC-3R. This data allows for methods of screening for MC-3R modulators which effect body weight and associated methods of treating various disorders associated with inappropriate regulation of body weight. The disclosure also relates to a MC-3R/MC-4R double knockout mouse which can be used to select for and test potential modulators (e.g., agonists or antagonists) of MC-3R and/or MC-4R. It is shown that MC-3R serves a non-redundant role, when compared to MC-4R, in the regulation of energy homeostasis. | | Abstract: | Cells and non-human transgenic animals have been engineered to be deficient in the gene encoding the melcanocortin-3 receptor protein (MC-3R). MC-3R deficient transgenic animals have increased fatmass and reduced lean body mass, showing that the MC-3R protein is involved in the regulation of body fat and muscle mass. These MC-3R deficient transgenic animals can be used to select for and test potential modulators of MC-3R. This data allows for methods of screening for MC-3R modulators which effect body weight and associated methods of treating various disorders associated with inappropriate regulation of body weight. The disclosure also relates to a MC-3R/MC-4R double knockout mouse which can be used to select for and test potential modulators (e.g., agonists or antagonists) of MC-3R and/or MC-4R. It is shown that MC-3R serves a non-redundant role, when compared to MC-4R, in the regulation of energy homeostasis. | | US Patent Website: | Click Here for Full Text of Patent | | Title Number: | US6639123 | | Application Number: | US2000000709066 | | Date Filed: | 09/11/2000 | | Date Published: | 28/10/2003 | | Assignee: | Merck and Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA |
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