The @entity34237 participates in regulating body weight homeostasis. We demonstrated early that acute blockage of the MC-4 receptor increases food intake and relieves @entity558 in @entity35 . Our recent studies show that 4-week chronic blockage of the MC-4 receptor leads to robust increases in food intake and development of @entity28 , whereas stimulation of the receptor leads to @entity448 . Interestingly, the food conversion ratio was clearly increased by MC-4 receptor blockage, whereas it was decreased in agonist-treated @entity35 in a transient manner. Chronic infusion of an agonist caused a transient increase in @entity26 consumption. Our studies also show that the MC-4 receptor plays a role in luteinizing hormone and prolactin surges in female @entity35 . The MC-4 receptor has a role in mediating the effects of leptin on these surges. The phylogenetic relation of the MC-4 receptor to other GPCRs in the @entity1 genome was determined. The three-dimensional structure of the protein was studied by construction of a high-affinity @entity219 binding site between the helices, using two @entity3793 residues facing each other. We also cloned the MC-4 receptor from evolutionary important species and showed by chromosomal mapping a conserved synteny between @entity1 and @entity3392 . The MC-4 receptor has been remarkably conserved in structure and pharmacology for more than 400 million years, implying that the receptor participated in vital physiological functions early in vertebrate evolution.

Functional role, structure, and evolution of the XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['humans', 'human'] @entity558 :: ('MESH:C536528', 'Disease') :: ['anorexic conditions'] @entity28 :: ('MESH:D009765', 'Disease') :: ['obesity'] @entity3793 :: ('CHEBI:27570', 'Chemical') :: ['histidine'] @entity26 :: ('MESH:D010100', 'Chemical') :: ['oxygen'] @entity219 :: ('MESH:D015032', 'Chemical') :: ['zinc'] @entity448 :: ('MESH:D000855', 'Disease') :: ['anorexia'] @entity34237 :: ('25635(Tax:10116)', 'Gene') :: ['melanocortin (MC)-4 receptor'] @entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rats'] @entity3392 :: ('7955', 'Species') :: ['zebrafish']
@entity34237 :: (25635(Tax:10116),Gene) :: ['melanocortin-4 receptor']
