The Agouti Gene in Obesity: Central and Peripheral Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Implications

The document discussed the agouti gene, which was known to cause adult-onset obesity in mice due to mutations. The gene was cloned and characterized nearly a century after its initial recognition. Agouti is expressed in neonatal skin, influencing melanin production in hair follicles. Dominant mutations lead to widespread agouti expression, resulting in maturity-onset obesity, with weight gain starting at 4 weeks and peaking between 8 and 17 months. The agouti protein has a specific structure, including a signal sequence, a basic central region, a poly-proline-rich region, and a cysteine-rich carboxyl-terminal region.