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Another peptide that regulates appetite-neuromedin U

OK, you've learned about leptin and ghrelin. Here's another neuropeptide, neuormedin U, that is important in regulating body weight and energy expenditure.

OK, you've learned about leptin and ghrelin (and maybe NPY, MSH, AgRP and CART). Here's another neuropeptide, neuormedin U, that is important in regulating body weight and energy expenditure.

Knocking out the gene for this peptide in mice causes them to become excessively hungry (hyperphagic), obese, and have decreased motor activity. This protein also has several other reported roles, in physiological processes from smooth muscle contraction to blood flow. It should be interesting to see how this fits into the big picture of appetite regulation and PWS.

Neuromedin U has a novel anorexigenic effect independent of the leptin signaling pathway.
Hanada R, Teranishi H, Pearson JT, Kurokawa M, Hosoda H, Fukushima N, Fukue Y, Serino R, Fujihara H, Ueta Y, Ikawa M, Okabe M, Murakami N, Shirai M, Yoshimatsu H, Kangawa K, Kojima M. Nature Medicine 10: 1067 1073, 2004.

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Topics: Research

Theresa Strong

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Theresa V. Strong, Ph.D., received a B.S. from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Medical Genetics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). After postdoctoral studies with Dr. Francis Collins at the University of Michigan, she joined the UAB faculty, leading a research lab focused on gene therapy for cancer and directing UAB’s Vector Production Facility. Theresa is one of the founding members of FPWR and has directed FPWR’s grant program since its inception. In 2016, she transitioned to a full-time position as Director of Research Programs at FPWR. She remains an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Genetics at UAB. She and her husband Jim have four children, including a son with PWS.