Cytosine methylation is common, but not ubiquitous, in eukaryotes. Mammals 1 and the
fungus Neurospora crassa 2 , 3 have about 2–3% of cytosines methylated. In mammals, …

The central melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) plays a critical role in energy homeostasis,
although little is known regarding its role in the regulation of adaptive thermogenesis of brown …

In hippocampal neurons, the scaffold protein AKAP79 recruits the phosphatase calcineurin
to L-type Ca 2+ channels and couples Ca 2+ influx to activation of calcineurin and of its …

L-type voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels (LTCC) couple neuronal excitation to gene transcription.
LTCC activity is elevated by the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and …

The melanocortin-3 receptor–deficient (MC3-R −/− ) mouse exhibits mild obesity without
hyperphagia or hypometabolism. MC3-R deletion is reported to increase adiposity, reduce lean …

In neurons, regulation of activity-dependent transcription by the nuclear factor of activated T-cells
(NFAT) depends upon Ca 2+ influx through voltage-gated L-type calcium channels (…

Hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons play a critical role in the regulation of
energy balance, and there is a convergence of critical synaptic input including GABA and …

Metabolic syndrome, a complex of highly debilitating disorders that includes insulin resistance,
hypertension, and dyslipidemia, is associated with the development of obesity in humans …

DPP6 is well known as an auxiliary subunit of Kv4-containing, A-type K + channels which
regulate dendritic excitability in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. We have recently …

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is an inherited intellectual impairment that results from the loss of
fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an mRNA binding protein that regulates mRNA …