The Effects of Mutations in Melanocortin-4 Receptors and Ligand Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone that Cause Inherited Obesity in Humans

Abstract

Obesity, as one would assume, is not always the effect of improper dietetics and a maltreatment of physicality. Obesity can be a genetic mutation that is carried on from an obese proband, or person of first generation gene mutation. There are mutations that lead to changes in codons, resulting in signals that increase appetite and reduce the metabolism. This is a result of a frameshift mutation in the gene sequence that affects the Melanocortin-4 receptor of the cells, and the pre-pro-opiomelanocortin generating the melanocyte-stimulating hormones that bind that receptor. This physiological process is a key instrument in weight regulation. These mutations arise from a proband with a dominant form of obesity, that is passed on to offspring.