Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies
14:56

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies

Published on: May 6, 2022

5.1K

Association of Mutations in the Melanocortin-2 Receptor Accessory Protein 2 Gene (MRAP2) and Obesity: A Systematic

Ren-Lei Ji1, Huifei Sophia Zheng1, Alan E Wilson2

  • 1Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|January 28, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Rare variants in Melanocortin-2 receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) are linked to increased obesity risk. This study quantifies the association, supporting MRAP2 as a key gene in human obesity susceptibility.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Metabolism
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Melanocortin-2 receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) plays a crucial role in regulating energy balance.
  • Previous studies on rare MRAP2 variants and obesity were limited by small sample sizes and heterogeneity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and perform a cohort-level meta-analysis to determine the association between rare coding MRAP2 variants and human obesity.
  • To provide a quantitative assessment of MRAP2's impact on obesity risk.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search across five major databases (Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science).
  • Meta-analysis of seven independent cohorts, including 9771 individuals (4548 with obesity, 5223 with normal weight).
  • Analysis of 27 rare coding MRAP2 variants using inverse-variance-weighted random-effects models.

Main Results:

  • 27 rare coding MRAP2 variants were identified in 46 individuals with obesity and 18 with normal weight.
  • Carriers of rare coding MRAP2 variants exhibited significantly higher odds of obesity (OR = 2.61; 95% CI, 1.49-4.58; p = 8.0 × 10^-4).

Conclusions:

  • MRAP2 is a biologically plausible susceptibility gene for human obesity.
  • Rare coding MRAP2 variants are associated with increased odds of obesity, particularly in European-ancestry populations.
  • Findings provide a quantitative basis for future genetic and functional research on MRAP2 and obesity.
Keywords:
MRAP2energy homeostasismeta-analysisobesityvariant

More Related Videos

An Advanced Murine Model for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Association with Type 2 Diabetes10:17

An Advanced Murine Model for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Association with Type 2 Diabetes

Published on: April 26, 2019

7.4K
Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness and Safety of Shugan Jieyu Capsules for the Treatment of Insomnia04:34

Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness and Safety of Shugan Jieyu Capsules for the Treatment of Insomnia

Published on: February 17, 2023

1.6K

Related Concept Videos

meta-Directing Deactivators: –NO2, –CN, –CHO, –⁠CO2R, –COR, –CO2H01:13

meta-Directing Deactivators: –NO2, –CN, –CHO, –⁠CO2R, –COR, –CO2H

All meta-directing substituents are deactivating groups. These substituents withdraw electrons from the aromatic ring, making the ring less reactive toward electrophilic substitution. For example, the nitration of nitrobenzene is 100,000 times slower than that of benzene because of the deactivating effect of the nitro group. The first step in an electrophilic aromatic substitution is the addition of an electrophile to form a resonance-stabilized carbocation. The energy diagrams for...
6.7K
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).
64.0K
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins02:36

RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins

Proteins that regulate transcription can do so either via direct contact with RNA Polymerase or through indirect interactions facilitated by adaptors, mediators, histone-modifying proteins, and nucleosome remodelers. Direct interactions to activate transcription is seen in bacteria as well as in some eukaryotic genes. In these cases, upstream activation sequences are adjacent to the promoters, and the activator proteins interact directly with the transcriptional machinery. For example, in...
10.9K
2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO201:20

2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO2

Secondary amines react with nitrous acid to form N-nitrosamines, as depicted in Figure 1. Nitrous acid, a weak and unstable acid, is formed in situ from an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite and strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, in cold conditions. In the presence of an acid, the nitrous acid gets protonated. The subsequent loss of water results in the formation of the electrophile known as nitrosonium ion.
5.4K
Accessory Organs01:31

Accessory Organs

Accessory organs are those that participate in the digestion of food but do not come into direct contact with it like the mouth, stomach, or intestine do. Accessory organs secrete enzymes into the digestive tract to facilitate the breakdown of food.
74.2K
Cytoskeletal Accessory Proteins01:13

Cytoskeletal Accessory Proteins

The cytoskeleton is an essential cell component that plays several structural and functional roles. However, the filaments that make up the cytoskeleton cannot function independently and depend on the accessory or ancillary proteins to effectively carry out their function. Accessory proteins associate with cytoskeletal filaments and their monomers, aiding filament formation and function. They also help in the cross-communication among cytoskeletal filaments. Cytoskeletal accessory proteins are...
4.1K