| 1980 |
The human POMC genomic DNA encodes the corticotropin-β-lipotropin precursor as a single gene; nucleotide sequencing revealed pairs of basic amino acid residues (Lys-Arg) punctuating conserved segments corresponding to component peptide hormones ACTH and β-lipotropin, with no intervening sequence over the exon 3 region, establishing the structural basis for proteolytic processing. |
Genomic DNA isolation, electron microscope heteroduplex analysis, gel blotting, and nucleotide sequencing compared with bovine cDNA |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
High |
6254047
|
| 1983 |
The human POMC gene was chromosomally localized to 2p23 by in situ hybridization, establishing its genomic map position. |
In situ hybridization to stretched prometaphase chromosomes with high-resolution banding |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
High |
6196780
|
| 1983 |
CRF stimulates ACTH secretion from anterior pituitary cells and α-MSH secretion from pars intermedia cells via adenylate cyclase activation at the pituitary level; α1-adrenergic agents stimulate ACTH directly at the pituitary, while β-adrenergic and antidopaminergic agents act suprapituitarily. Dopamine receptor activation inhibits pars intermedia activity. |
Primary culture of rat anterior and intermediate pituitary cells; adenylate cyclase assay; in vivo peptide measurements |
Journal of steroid biochemistry |
High |
6310240
|
| 1986 |
ACTH and α-MSH peptides in the rat anterior pituitary are differentially stored in distinct secretory granule populations within corticotropes, as revealed by double-label immunocytochemistry; three subtypes of corticotropes were distinguished by their relative content of ACTH vs. α-MSH immunoreactivity. |
Double-labeling immunocytochemistry (ferritin for α-MSH; colloidal gold for ACTH) at the electron microscopy level |
Cell and tissue research |
High |
3004731
|
| 1986 |
ACTH-(1-24) and α-MSH administered intracerebroventricularly suppress spontaneous feeding and abolish the feeding-stimulatory effect of κ-opioid receptor agonists, establishing that melanocortin peptides play an inhibitory role in a melanocortin-opioid homeostatic system with opposing, mutually-balancing effects. |
Intracerebroventricular injection in adult rats; behavioral measurement of food intake |
Peptides |
Medium |
3025825
|
| 1987 |
POMC-derived peptides (ACTH, β-endorphin, α-MSH) in brainstem baroreceptor areas of the rat originate from both hypothalamic arcuate nucleus neurons and local NTS neurons; surgical lesion and transection experiments defined two descending pathways (medial and lateral) through which hypothalamic POMC fibers innervate vasomotor centers. |
Radioimmunoassay of brainstem peptides; 10 types of surgical lesions/transections in rat; immunohistochemistry |
Brain research |
High |
2829991
|
| 1988 |
POMC gene is expressed in many rat non-pituitary tissues (testis, duodenum, kidney, colon, liver, lung, stomach, spleen) producing a shorter (~800 nt) POMC-like mRNA compared with the ~1000 nt pituitary POMC mRNA, and the resulting peptides are processed differently or turned over faster in peripheral tissues. |
Northern blot hybridization with exon 3 riboprobe; gel filtration chromatography; radioimmunoassay of ACTH, β-endorphin, γ-MSH |
Endocrinology |
High |
2836169
|
| 1989 |
Glucocorticoid repression of POMC transcription is mediated by a negative glucocorticoid response element (nGRE) in the proximal POMC promoter that also binds COUP-family transcription factors; mutually exclusive binding of the glucocorticoid receptor and COUP factors to the nGRE determines cell-specific expression and glucocorticoid repression. |
DNA-mediated gene transfer into transgenic mice and tissue culture cells; DNA-protein binding assays |
Genome |
High |
2698828
|
| 1989 |
Peripheral γ-MSH peptides (derived from the N-terminal region of POMC) exert pressor, cardioaccelerator, and natriuretic effects dependent on central sympathetic drive and central vasopressinergic pathways; structure-activity studies identified the His-Phe-Arg-Trp core (γ-MSH-(5-8)/ACTH-(6-9)) as the minimal cardiovascular active sequence. |
Intravenous infusion with adrenergic/central lesion pharmacology in rats; structure-activity relationship with peptide fragments; intracarotid vs. intrajugular comparison |
The American journal of physiology |
Medium |
2552843
|
| 1991 |
ACTH-(1-24) competes with dopamine D2 receptor agonist [3H]NPA binding in rat striatal membranes in an apparent competitive manner (increased Kd, unchanged Bmax), and structure-activity analysis showed chain length is a key determinant of this interaction; ACTH peptides also inhibit D2 antagonist binding in pituitary, septum, and substantia nigra. |
Radioligand binding assays with rat striatal membranes; Scatchard analysis; structure-activity with multiple ACTH fragments |
European journal of pharmacology |
Medium |
1680721
|
| 1992 |
The murine and human melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptors (MC1R) and human ACTH receptor (MC2R) were cloned and identified as G-protein-coupled receptors; functional expression confirmed coupling to guanine nucleotide-binding proteins and defined the melanocortin receptor (MCR) subfamily. |
Molecular cloning, heterologous expression in cell lines, receptor binding assays |
Science (New York, N.Y.) |
High |
1325670
|
| 1993 |
A fourth human melanocortin receptor (MC4R), expressed primarily in the brain (absent from adrenal cortex, melanocytes, and placenta), was cloned and shown to increase intracellular cAMP upon agonist stimulation; its pharmacological profile distinguishes it from previously described MCRs. |
Molecular cloning, Northern blot, in situ hybridization, transient and stable transfection in COS-1 and L-cells, cAMP assay, fluorescent in situ hybridization (chromosome 18q21.3) |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
8392067
|
| 1993 |
A third human melanocortin receptor (MC3R) was cloned; pharmacological characterization showed it responds to the heptapeptide core common to ACTH and α-, β-, and γ-MSH with increased intracellular cAMP; expression is in brain, placenta, and gut but not melanoma cells or adrenal gland. |
PCR-based cloning, pharmacological characterization (receptor binding and cAMP assay), Northern blot and PCR expression analysis |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
8463333
|
| 1993 |
A novel human melanocortin receptor (MC2, later also designated MC-2) was cloned; when expressed in COS-7 cells it bound [125I]-NDP-MSH and was displaced by α-, β-, γ-MSH and ACTH but not β-endorphin, with highest affinity for NDP-MSH (Ki ~5 nM); receptor is expressed in brain. |
Genomic cloning, COS-7 cell expression, radioligand binding displacement assay |
Biochemical and biophysical research communications |
High |
8396929
|
| 1994 |
The mouse MC5 receptor (mMC5R) was cloned and shown to couple to adenylyl cyclase (cAMP increase) upon melanocortin stimulation; potency hierarchy was α-MSH > β-MSH > ACTH > γ-MSH; N- and C-terminal portions of α-MSH, but not the core heptapeptide alone, are key for MC5R activation. |
PCR-based cloning, cAMP assay in transfected cells, structure-activity analysis, Northern blot |
Biochemical and biophysical research communications |
High |
8185570
|
| 1994 |
Structural modifications at Trp9 of ACTH (substitution with Phe or N-α-methyltryptophan) produce antagonists that bind the ACTH receptor with high affinity but fail to activate the adrenal cortical adenylate cyclase system, demonstrating that Trp9 is essential for receptor activation but not binding, and that receptor occupancy alone is insufficient for hormonal activity. |
In vitro adenylate cyclase assay with bovine adrenal cortical plasma membranes; structure-activity analysis with ACTH analogs |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
High |
4359333
|
| 1996 |
UVB radiation stimulates increased POMC gene expression accompanied by production and release of α-MSH and ACTH by normal and malignant human melanocytes and keratinocytes; this response is also stimulated by dbcAMP and IL-1α, and can be abolished by the free radical scavenger NAC, implicating a cyclic AMP-dependent pathway and oxidative stress in UVB-induced POMC peptide production. |
Cell culture of human melanocytes and keratinocytes; UVB irradiation; RIA for α-MSH and ACTH; pharmacological manipulation (dbcAMP, IL-1α, NAC) |
Biochimica et biophysica acta |
High |
8781560
|
| 1997 |
None of the melanocortin receptors MC1, MC3, MC4, or MC5 possess binding epitopes for ACTH beyond the α-MSH sequence; MC3R shows >10-fold higher affinity for ACTH peptides than MC4R and favors the desacetylated N-terminus, suggesting MC3R as the likely mediator of short-loop negative feedback by ACTH/MSH peptides on CRF release. |
Competitive radioligand binding assay on transiently transfected eukaryotic cells expressing individual MCRs, using 125I-[Nle4,D-Phe7]α-MSH |
The Journal of endocrinology |
High |
9390008
|
| 1998 |
Two human patients with compound heterozygous or homozygous mutations in POMC exons develop early-onset obesity, adrenal insufficiency, and red hair pigmentation, establishing POMC as a monogenic determinant of energy homeostasis, adrenal function, and skin/hair pigmentation in humans. |
POMC gene sequencing in patients; identification of mutations (G7013T, C7133Δ in exon 3; C3804A in exon 2) that impair ACTH and α-MSH synthesis or abolish POMC translation |
Nature genetics |
High |
9620771
|
| 1998 |
The Arg151Cys variant of human MC1R binds α-MSH with normal affinity but cannot be stimulated to produce cAMP, rendering MC1R completely nonfunctional and explaining red hair, light skin, and poor tanning ability in affected individuals. |
Receptor binding with 131I-α-MSH; cAMP functional assay in transfected cells expressing Arg151Cys MC1R vs. wild-type |
Biochemical and biophysical research communications |
High |
9571181
|
| 1999 |
Desacetyl-α-MSH activates MC1, MC3, MC4, and MC5 receptors (EC50 0.13–0.84 nM) with comparable or greater potency to α-MSH; mouse agouti protein antagonizes desacetyl-α-MSH coupling to MC4R much more effectively than α-MSH coupling (with reduced Bmax and increased EC50), revealing differential antagonism depending on the N-terminal acetylation state of the ligand. |
Stable expression of individual MCRs in HEK293 cells; PKA signaling pathway assay; competitive antagonism with agouti protein |
Endocrinology |
High |
10218968
|
| 1999 |
Several common MC1R point mutations (Val60Leu, Arg142His, Arg151Cys, Arg160Trp, Asp294His) found in red-haired individuals lose the ability to stimulate cAMP in response to α-MSH without complete loss of ligand binding (Arg142His and Asp294His show slight reduction in binding affinity), demonstrating loss-of-function at the signaling level. |
Transfection of mutant MC1R constructs in COS-1 cells; radioligand binding; cAMP production assay |
Biochemical and biophysical research communications |
High |
10403794
|
| 1999 |
Chicken POMC gene was isolated as a single-copy gene with the same structural organization as mammalian POMC; the predicted 251 aa POMC contains nine proteolytic cleavage sites and can give rise to all melanocortin family members (ACTH, α-, β-, γ-MSH) and β-endorphin; POMC mRNA is expressed in brain, adrenal gland, gonads, kidney, uropygial gland, and adipose tissue. |
Genomic library screening, molecular cloning, sequence analysis, RT-PCR expression profiling |
Biochimica et biophysica acta |
Medium |
10395956
|
| 2002 |
A missense mutation R236G in POMC disrupts the dibasic cleavage site between β-MSH and β-endorphin; cells transfected with mutant POMC produce a β-MSH/β-endorphin fusion protein that binds hMC4R with normal affinity but has markedly reduced ability to activate it, establishing a novel mechanism of obesity susceptibility through production of an aberrant POMC product that interferes with melanocortin signaling. |
POMC gene sequencing in 262 obese subjects; transfection of mutant POMC cDNA in β-TC3 cells; metabolic labeling; receptor binding and cAMP assay with hMC4R |
Human molecular genetics |
High |
12165561
|
| 2003 |
Leptin stimulates POMC gene transcription via activation of STAT3; leptin-induced POMC promoter activity requires the STAT3-binding site (Tyr1138) of the leptin receptor ObRb and a defined 30-bp promoter element; approximately 37% of hypothalamic POMC neurons (concentrated in the rostral region) show leptin-induced STAT3 phosphorylation. |
POMC promoter reporter assays in transfected cells; dominant-negative STAT3 expression; ObRb Tyr1138 mutant; double immunohistochemistry for phospho-STAT3 and POMC in rat hypothalamus |
Endocrinology |
High |
12697721
|
| 2003 |
α-MSH and desacetyl-α-MSH similarly couple overexpressed MC1, MC3, MC4, and MC5 receptors to both adenylyl cyclase and calcium signaling pathways in HEK293 cells; however, α-MSH (but not desacetyl-α-MSH) significantly increases primary rat osteoblast proliferation, revealing a functional divergence at endogenous (low) receptor expression levels. |
Stably expressed MCRs in HEK293 cells; adenylyl cyclase assay; calcium signaling assay; primary osteoblast proliferation assay |
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences |
Medium |
12851298
|
| 2005 |
NPY inhibits posttranslational processing of POMC to active α-MSH by reducing prohormone convertase-2 (PC2) levels in ARC neurons; this is mediated through NPY-Y1 receptors and the transcription factor Egr-1. NPY also decreases α-MSH-induced CREB phosphorylation in the PVN, reducing TRH production, and decreases the amount of α-MSH delivered to PVN neurons. |
In vivo NPY injection; PC2 mRNA and protein measurements; Egr-1 knockdown; CREB phosphorylation assay; α-MSH and TRH measurements in hypothalamic nuclei |
American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism |
High |
23321476
|
| 2005 |
CRH stimulates cAMP, POMC gene expression, ACTH production and release, and corticosterone production in human dermal fibroblasts (but not keratinocytes), demonstrating a functional cutaneous CRH-POMC-corticosteroid axis equivalent to the HPA axis. |
Primary human fibroblast and keratinocyte cultures; cAMP assay; POMC mRNA and protein measurement; ELISA for corticosterone |
Journal of neuroimmunology |
High |
15833364
|
| 2005 |
LXRα positively regulates the POMC gene promoter at the transcriptional level; the RXRα/LXRα heterodimer binds the region between -73 and -52 bp of the rat POMC promoter; LXR agonist TO901317 increased POMC mRNA, ACTH immunoreactivity in pituitary, and plasma ACTH/corticosterone in vivo. |
Luciferase reporter assay; siRNA knockdown of LXRα; EMSA (electrophoretic mobility shift assay); chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP); in vivo mouse experiments |
Molecular endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.) |
High |
19036902
|
| 2008 |
Two novel heterozygous missense mutations in the POMC N-terminus (C28F and L37F) impair sorting of POMC to the regulated secretory pathway, redirecting mutant POMC to the constitutive secretory pathway, thereby preventing normal propeptide processing to bioactive melanocortin products and causing early-onset obesity. |
Metabolic labeling, Western blotting, immunoassay of lysates and conditioned media of transiently transfected β-TC3 cells; comparison of wild-type vs. mutant POMC processing and secretion |
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism |
High |
18697863
|
| 2010 |
POMC neuron-specific deletion of PTP1B reduces adiposity, improves leptin sensitivity, and increases energy expenditure on high-fat diet; POMC neuron-specific deletion of SHP2 produces opposite effects (increased adiposity, decreased leptin sensitivity, reduced energy expenditure) and markedly reduces hypothalamic POMC mRNA and α-MSH peptide levels, demonstrating that PTP1B and SHP2 reciprocally regulate energy balance via POMC neurons. |
Conditional (Cre-lox) POMC neuron-specific knockout mice for Ptp1b and Shp2; body composition measurement; hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp; hypothalamic POMC mRNA and α-MSH peptide quantification |
The Journal of clinical investigation |
High |
20160350
|
| 2013 |
Pharmacogenetic (DREADD) activation of NTS POMC neurons acutely inhibits feeding within minutes, while ARC POMC neurons require chronic stimulation to suppress food intake; ablation of ARC but not NTS POMC neurons with diphtheria toxin increases food intake, reduces energy expenditure, and causes obesity and endocrine disorders, demonstrating distinct temporal and functional roles for POMC neurons in the two brain regions. |
Cre-dependent AAV delivery of hM3Dq DREADD or diphtheria toxin receptor to ARC vs. NTS POMC neurons in POMC-Cre mice; clozapine-N-oxide administration; diphtheria toxin ablation; food intake and energy expenditure measurement |
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience |
High |
23426689
|
| 2014 |
MeCP2 positively regulates hypothalamic Pomc expression by preventing promoter DNA hypermethylation; deletion of MeCP2 in POMC neurons increases DNA methylation of the Pomc promoter and reduces POMC expression, causing obesity and leptin resistance. In vitro, hypermethylation of the Pomc promoter reduces transcriptional activity, and MeCP2 acts synergistically with CREB1 to activate the Pomc promoter. |
POMC-neuron-specific MeCP2 knockout mice; bisulfite sequencing of Pomc promoter; luciferase reporter assay with methylated promoter; co-transfection with MeCP2 and CREB1; metabolic phenotyping |
Diabetologia |
High |
24078059
|
| 2014 |
Early-life stress (maternal separation) reduces DNA methylation at a critical regulatory region (-417 to -260 bp) of the Pomc promoter in mouse pituitary, leading to increased Pomc mRNA that persists for up to 1 year. Methyl-CpG binding protein-2 (MeCP2) binds the distal Pomc promoter and acts with HDAC2 and DNMT1 to repress Pomc expression under basal conditions. |
Early-life stress model in mice; bisulfite sequencing; MeCP2 binding assay; AtT20 cell line with site-specific Pomc promoter methylation; co-immunoprecipitation of MeCP2 with HDAC2 and DNMT1 |
Endocrinology |
High |
24506071
|
| 2015 |
FoxO1 inhibits STAT3-mediated leptin induction of POMC transcription through direct protein-protein interaction with STAT3; residues Gly140-Leu160 (specifically Gln145, Arg147, Lys148, Arg153, Arg154) of FoxO1 are critical for STAT3 binding; FoxO3 (but not FoxO4) similarly interacts with STAT3 and inhibits POMC promoter activity. |
Co-immunoprecipitation; FoxO1 deletion mutant analysis; POMC promoter luciferase assay; STAT3 binding mutants; computational docking simulation |
The Biochemical journal |
High |
25510553
|
| 2015 |
GPR45 regulates POMC expression via the JAK/STAT signaling pathway in a cell-autonomous manner; disruption of Gpr45 in mice reduces POMC expression and energy expenditure; intraventricular melanotan-2 (α-MSH analog) rescues adult obesity in Gpr45 mutants, placing GPR45 upstream of POMC in the melanocortin energy-balance pathway. |
piggyBac insertional mutagenesis screen; conditional Gpr45 disruption; POMC expression measurement; JAK/STAT pathway analysis; intracerebroventricular drug administration; metabolic phenotyping |
The Journal of clinical investigation |
High |
27500489
|
| 2015 |
Hypothalamic Kiss1 (kisspeptin) neurons, which regulate fertility and puberty onset, arise developmentally from POMC-expressing progenitors; using intersectional ribosome-tagging strategies in mice, Pomc-expressing precursors were shown to give rise to both energy-sensing POMC/AgRP neurons and reproductive Kiss1 neurons. |
Intersectional Cre-lox (embryonic and adult ribosome-tagging) transgenic mouse strategy; lineage tracing from Pomc-expressing progenitors; cell-type specific translational profiling |
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience |
High |
25855171
|
| 2015 |
Metformin induces AMPK/LXRα phosphorylation followed by suppression of POMC expression in rat pituitary cells, leading to reduced ACTH and cortisol levels; this AMPK/LXRα/POMC pathway was confirmed in animal studies as a molecular mechanism underlying the antihyperglycemic effect of metformin. |
Urinary metabolomics in human subjects; in vitro rat pituitary cell treatment with metformin; AMPK and LXRα phosphorylation assays; POMC/ACTH measurement; in vivo rat experiments |
Scientific reports |
Medium |
25634597
|
| 2016 |
E2F1 (phosphorylated at Ser-337) binds a cluster site in the proximal hPOMC promoter region (-42 to +68) and, together with its heterodimer partner DP1, drives ectopic hPOMC transcription in non-pituitary tumor cells independently of pituitary-specific Tpit/Pitx1 factors; inhibitors of E2F1 suppressed hPOMC expression and ACTH in vitro and in xenografted mice. |
POMC promoter reporter assays; E2F1/DP1 co-expression; ChIP for E2F1 binding; phosphorylation analysis (Ser-337); E2F1 inhibitors; xenograft mouse model; primary tumor cells |
Endocrine-related cancer |
High |
27935805
|
| 2016 |
Glutamatergic ARC neurons expressing the oxytocin receptor rapidly cause satiety when optogenetically/chemogenetically activated; their projections converge with GABAergic AgRP projections on MC4R-expressing PVH neurons (PVHMC4R). Transmission across the ARCGlutamatergic→PVHMC4R synapse is potentiated by α-MSH (derived from ARCPOMC neurons) acting as an MC4R agonist, revealing post-synaptic modulation of a satiety circuit by POMC-derived α-MSH. |
Optogenetics and chemogenetics (DREADD); electrophysiology; circuit tracing; MC4R-Cre conditional mouse lines; synaptic physiology recording before and after α-MSH application |
Nature neuroscience |
High |
27869800
|
| 2016 |
IRE1α in POMC neurons is required for thermogenesis and glycemia; POMC-specific Ire1α deficiency accelerates diet-induced obesity, impairs thermogenic responses and beiging of white adipose tissue, and causes whole-body glucose and insulin intolerance and hepatic insulin resistance; loss of Ire1α elevates ER stress and promotes leptin and insulin resistance in POMC neurons. |
Conditional Ire1α knockout in POMC neurons; metabolic phenotyping (energy expenditure, glucose/insulin tolerance tests, hepatic insulin sensitivity); hypothalamic ER stress markers |
Diabetes |
High |
28028078
|
| 2017 |
TrpC5 channel subunits in POMC neurons mediate the acute anorexigenic effects of leptin and serotonin 2C receptor agonists; POMC-specific or neuronal TrpC5 deletion reduces energy expenditure, increases food intake, and blunts electrophysiological responses of arcuate POMC neurons to leptin and 5-HT2CR agonists, and blocks lorcaserin-induced glucose/insulin tolerance improvements. |
Conditional TrpC5 KO in POMC neurons; electrophysiology (patch-clamp) of arcuate POMC neurons; pharmacological challenge with leptin and 5-HT2CR agonist lorcaserin; metabolic phenotyping |
Cell reports |
High |
28099839
|
| 2017 |
In diet-induced obese mice, persistently activated microglia hypersecrete TNFα which stimulates mitochondrial ATP production and fusion in POMC neuron neurites, increasing POMC neuronal firing rates and excitability; disruption of TNFα downstream signals TNFSF11A or NDUFAB1 in the mediobasal hypothalamus reverses mitochondrial elongation and reduces obesity. |
Diet-induced obesity mouse model; microglial activation characterization; TNFα measurement; mitochondrial morphology imaging in POMC neurons; electrophysiology; targeted gene disruption (TNFSF11A, NDUFAB1) |
Nature communications |
High |
28489068
|
| 2017 |
DRP1-mediated mitochondrial fission in POMC neurons restrains leptin sensitivity and glucose sensing; inducible deletion of DRP1 in mature POMC neurons increases mitochondrial size, ROS production, and neuronal activation, improves leptin sensitivity and glucose responsiveness, and enhances glucoprivic counter-regulatory responses via PPAR-dependent upregulation of Kcnj11 (KATP channel subunit). |
Inducible conditional DRP1 KO in POMC neurons (Drp1fl/fl-POMC-cre:ERT2); mitochondrial morphology analysis; electrophysiology; leptin and glucose challenge assays; gene expression (Kcnj11, PPAR pathway) |
Cell metabolism |
High |
28190775
|
| 2017 |
ATF4 in POMC neurons directly binds the ATG5 promoter and represses ATG5 transcription; loss of ATF4 in POMC neurons upregulates ATG5-dependent macroautophagy and increases α-MSH production in the hypothalamus, leading to a lean phenotype resistant to diet-induced obesity. Double KO of Atf4 and Atg5 in POMC neurons reverses the lean phenotype, placing ATG5/autophagy downstream of ATF4 as a mechanism regulating α-MSH production. |
POMC-neuron-specific Atf4 KO; double Atf4/Atg5 KO; ATF4 ChIP at ATG5 promoter; autophagy flux assays; α-MSH measurement; metabolic phenotyping |
Autophagy |
High |
28350524
|
| 2018 |
A subpopulation of POMC neurons is activated by insulin via insulin receptor signaling, and represses hepatic glucose production (HGP); the proportion of POMC neurons activated by insulin is regulated by the phosphatase TCPTP, which is increased by fasting and degraded after feeding. Elevated TCPTP in obesity represses insulin-induced activation of POMC neurons and their ability to suppress HGP. |
POMC-neuron-specific TCPTP deletion in mice; electrophysiology of POMC neurons; hepatic glucose production measurement (hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp); TCPTP protein level analysis in obesity and fasting/fed states |
eLife |
High |
30230471
|
| 2021 |
POMCLepr+ and POMCGlp1r+ neuron subpopulations in the arcuate nucleus are largely nonoverlapping, exhibit distinct electrophysiological properties and anatomical distributions, differentially express receptors for energy-state hormones and neurotransmitters, and differ in their ability to suppress feeding, revealing a functional microarchitecture of POMC neurons. |
Intersectional Cre/Dre-dependent mouse models for labeling specific POMC subpopulations; translational profiling (RiboTag); electrophysiology; chemogenetic feeding assays |
Nature neuroscience |
High |
34002087
|
| 2021 |
mTORC1 blockade in POMC neurons induces hyperphagia by mimicking a cellular negative energy state; this is associated with decreased α-MSH production, recruitment of POMC/GABAergic neurotransmission (restrained by cannabinoid type 1 receptor), and simultaneous activation of POMC/GABAergic neurons and inhibition of POMC/glutamatergic neurons, revealing mTORC1 as an orchestrator of functionally distinct POMC neuron subpopulations. |
Conditional mTORC1 (Raptor) KO in POMC neurons; chemogenetics; electrophysiology; optogenetics; α-MSH measurement; translational profiling and single-cell analysis |
Cell reports |
High |
34644574
|
| 2021 |
In diabetic mice, NF-κB p50 subunit binding to the Pomc promoter represses POMC expression in sensory neurons; decreased POMC leads to lysosomal degradation of μ-opioid receptor (MOR), impairing antinociception; viral overexpression of POMC and MOR in sensory ganglia rescues the neuropathic pain phenotype. |
Streptozotocin diabetic mouse model; ChIP for NF-κB p50 at Pomc promoter; peripheral nerve POMC level measurement; MOR degradation analysis; AAV-mediated overexpression of POMC and MOR in sensory ganglia; behavioral pain assays; validation in human diabetic peripheral nervous system tissue |
Nature communications |
High |
33462216
|
| 2021 |
L-Lactate activates hypothalamic POMC neurons via two mechanisms: (1) through HCAR1 (hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1) on astrocytes coupled to Gαi/o-protein, mediating intercellular signaling to POMC neurons; and (2) via intracellular action blocked by the lactate transporter inhibitor 4-CIN in a subset of POMC neurons; depolarization in both cases is pertussis toxin-sensitive. |
Patch-clamp electrophysiology of labeled POMC neurons; pharmacological dissection with PTX, 4-CIN, APJ receptor antagonist, HCAR1 agonist 3Cl-HBA; immunohistochemical localization of HCAR1 to astrocytes not POMC neurons |
Scientific reports |
Medium |
34737351
|
| 2020 |
Optogenetic activation of the ARCPOMC→MeA (medial amygdala) neural projection reduces short-term food intake; anterograde tracing shows ARC POMC neurons project to ER-α- and MC4R-expressing neurons in the MeA; the anorectic effect of ARCPOMC→MeA stimulation is blocked by the MC4R antagonist SHU9119, establishing a functional extrahypothalamic melanocortinergic satiety circuit. |
Optogenetics (ChR2); monosynaptic anterograde and retrograde viral tracing; double immunohistochemistry for MC4R and ER-α; MC4R antagonist pharmacology; food intake measurement |
Frontiers in neural circuits |
High |
33250721
|
| 2015 |
Apelin-13 depolarizes approximately half of arcuate POMC neurons in a dose-dependent manner via the APJ receptor; this effect is mediated by Gβγ-dependent activation of PLC-β signaling (not Gαi/o) that inhibits M-type current (KCNQ channels 2, 3, 5); pertussis toxin does not block the response, but the Gβγ inhibitor gallein and PLC/PKC inhibitors do. |
Electrophysiology (patch-clamp); single-cell qPCR for APJ receptor and KCNQ subunits; pharmacological dissection with APJ antagonist, pertussis toxin, gallein, PLC/PKC inhibitors; M-current measurement |
PloS one |
High |
25782002
|