NEW MELANOCORTIN-4 RECEPTOR SEQUENCE AND SCREENING ASSAY TO IDENTIFY COMPOUND USEFUL IN REGULATING ANIMAL APPETITE AND METABOLIC RATE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide methods and therapeutic compositions for the treatment of appetite-related, metabolic and reproductive disorders related to inadequate food intake and energy metabolisms. SOLUTION: This invention provides new nucleic acids each encoding a canine and feline melanocortin 4 receptor and their gene products; screening assays to identify compounds that modulate the activity or expression of the melanocortin 4 receptors, and methods and therapeutic compositions for the treatment of appetite-related, metabolic and reproductive disorders related to inadequate food intake and energy metabolisms, comprising administering compounds that modulate the activity or expression of melanocortin receptors to animals.