Genetics of obesity and energy metabolism

这个项目的主要目的是确定人类肥胖的遗传和/或分子原因。我们正在对肥胖靶基因进行测序，以在20个青春期前的皮马印第安人病例（选择早期发病的严重肥胖）和20个性别和年龄匹配的瘦对照中发现可能与肥胖相关的多态性。在过去的一年里，我们研究了黑素皮质素受体-4，并没有发现感兴趣的多态性。基因序列

The main aims of this projects are to identify the genetic and/or molecular cause(s) of obesity in humans. We are sequencing obesity target genes to find polymorphisms that may be associated with obesity in a group of 20 prepubertal Pima Indian cases (selected for early onset of severe obesity) and 20 sex- and age-matched lean controls. In the past year we have studied the melanocortin receptor-4 and found no polymorphisms of interest. Sequencing of the the neuropeptide Y receptor-5, has confirmed several polymorphisms previously found to be associated with obesity in adult Pimas. We are also studying differential gene expression in post-mortem brain samples from obese and lean adult donors, using a human neurobiology microarray. In the past year we have completed a study to test the reliability of the methodology, which appears to be acceptable. To uncover possible common neurochemical defects underlying hyperphagia/obesity, we plan to begin by studying differential gene expression in the hypothalamus (which controls many aspects of eating behavior in animals and humans). We have completed one such experiment in 1 obese and 1 lean donor.