Description
Product Characteristics:
Leptin, the product of the ob (obese) gene, is a 16kD protein consisting of 146 amino acid residues. Leptin is produced in the adipose tissue, and is considered to play an important role in appetite control, fat metabolism and regulation of body weight. It targets the central nervous system, particularly hypothalamus, affecting food intake. Leptin levels are high in most obese individuals. Studies have shown that it may also influence reproductive function.
Subcellular location: Cytoplasm, Extracellular matrix
Synonyms: LEP, Leptin Murine Obesity Homolog, Leptin Precursor Obesity Factor, OB, Obese Protein, Obesity, Obesity factor, Obesity homolog mouse, Obesity Murine Homolog Leptin, OBS.
Target Information: This gene encodes a protein that is secreted by white adipocytes, and which plays a major role in the regulation of body weight. This protein, which acts through the leptin receptor, functions as part of a signaling pathway that can inhibit food intake and/or regulate energy expenditure to maintain constancy of the adipose mass. This protein also has several endocrine functions, and is involved in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses, hematopoiesis, angiogenesis and wound healing. Mutations in this gene and/or its regulatory regions cause severe obesity, and morbid obesity with hypogonadism. This gene has also been linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus development. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]