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Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
Melanocortin receptors and their accessory proteins
Sadani N Cooray1, Adrian J L Clark
1Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1 M 6BQ, UK.
None:
The melanocortin receptor family consists of 5 members which belong to the GPCR superfamily. Their specific ligands, the melanocortins are peptide hormones which are formed by the proteolytic cleavage of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) protein. It is now recognised that certain GPCRs require accessory proteins for their function. Like these GPCRs the melanocortin receptor family is also known to be associated with accessory proteins that regulate their function. In this review we will summarise the accessory proteins involved in the function of the 5 melanocortin receptors and in particular focus on the melanocortin 2 receptor accessory protein (MRAP) which is crucial for the function of the MC2R.
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