What are leptin receptors?

Leptin is a hormone that sends signals to the brain to give whether the body is nourished or starving. In order to transmit these signals, there must be a molecular switch on the appropriate brain cells to get the signal. Such switches are known as receptors. There are a number of leptin receptors that respond to the molecule. Other tissues in addition to the brain may respond to this compound and there are a number of forms of such receptors in the human body.

While insulin was known as a hormone affecting energy metabolism since the beginning of the 20th century, Leptin was discovered only in 1994. Originally supposed to be a new way to help people lose weight, its effects were deeply more complex than expected. Many different tissues in humans have leptin receptors and the compound creates countless effects on human physiology.

The original discovery of the leptin was made of mutant mice that were highly obese. It has been found to be lacking a gene to create a mergerNu or receptor. In mice, the Leptin receptor gene is known as db . Genetic studies have shown that genes for hormone and its receptor are highly preserved between organisms.

In humans, the leptin receptors are known as Lep-R . There is a small group of people in this receptor in this receptor. Morbid obesity is the result of this mutation.

In order to carry the signal from the outside of the cell to the interior, the receptor must pass through the plasma cell membrane. Many receptors have a number of loops in the membrane. Leptin receptors have only one domain over the external cell membrane into the inside of the cell. When Leptin binds to the surface of the receptor, it activates the change of the receptor tutery inside the cell. This causes a cascade of signaling, resulting in a change in hormonal metabolism.

One product is produced from the gene but is processed into many different types of leptin receptors duringThe process of modification from DNA to its final protein form. These receptors differ in the length of the protein that extends in the cell. The brain receptor, which responds to signals from fat -containing tissue, differs from other long protein protein extensions in the cell. It has been found that some forms of the receptor are soluble and are not associated with the membrane cells.

Research has shown that leptin has effects on the metabolism of other tissues, including lungs, kidneys and prostrates. Leptin receptors in these areas have much shorter intracellular areas. Some studies have involved this hormone in the development of certain cancers. Future research will undoubtedly be much more about the other effects of this hormone on human physiology.