The melanocortin family of receptors has been implicated in the regulation of a number of physiologic systems. Despite the cloning and characterization of these receptors, little is known about their regulation. I will summarize in this chapter what is known about a novel regulator of melanocortin receptor activity, the agouti gene product. Not only does the action of agouti on these receptors
... [Show full abstract] explain or clarify the physiologic role of some of these receptors, agouti function and regulation also imparts new possibilities for these receptors having a role in processes such as energy homeostasis.
