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Beacon: a novel gene involved in the regulation of energy balance

journal contribution
posted on 2000-11-01, 00:00 authored by G R Collier, J S McMillan, Kelly WindmillKelly Windmill, Ken WalderKen Walder, J Tenne-Brown, A de Silva, J Trevaskis, S Jones, G J Morton, S Lee, G Augert, A Civitarese, P Z Zimmet
The hypothalamus plays a major role in the control of energy balance via the coordination of several neuropeptides and their receptors. We used a unique polygenic animal model of obesity, Psammomys obesus, and performed differential display polymerase chain reaction on hypothalamic mRNA samples to identify novel genes involved in obesity. In this study, we describe a novel gene that encodes a small protein we have termed "beacon." Beacon mRNA gene expression in the hypothalamus was positively correlated with percentage of body fat. Intracerebroventricular infusion of beacon resulted in a dose-dependent increase in food intake and body weight and an increase in hypothalamic expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY). Simultaneous infusion of beacon and NPY significantly potentiated the orexigenic response and resulted in rapid body weight gain. These data suggest a role for beacon in the regulation of energy balance and body weight homeostasis that may be mediated, at least in part, through the NPY pathway.

History

Journal

Diabetes

Volume

49

Issue

11

Pagination

1766 - 1771

Publisher

American Diabetes Association

Location

Arlington, Va.

ISSN

0012-1797

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2000, American Diabetes Association