摘要 |
The present invention more particularly discloses the identification of human obesity susceptibility genes, which can be used for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of obesity ant associated disorders, as well as for the screening of therapeutically active drugs. The invention more specifically discloses certain alleles of potassium voltage-gated channel (E.CNA) genes related to susceptibility to obesity and representing novel targets for therapeutic intervention. More particularly, the potassium volt-age-gated channel (KCNA) genes are located on chromosome 12 and are selected from the group consisting of KCNA1, KCNA5 and KCNA6. The present invention relates to particular mutations in the KCNA1, KCNA5 and KCNA6 genes and their expression products, as well as to diagnostic tools and kits based on these mutations. The invention can be used in the diagnosis of predisposition to, detection, prevention and/or treatment of coronary heart disease and metabolic disorders, including but not limited to hypoalphalipoproteinemia, familial combined hyperlipidemia, insulin resistant syndrome X or multiple metabolic disorder, coronary artery disease, diabetes and associated complications and dyslipidemia. |