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Human obese gene expression. Adipocyte-specific expression and regional differences in the adipose tissue
1Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
Diabetes
|July 1, 1995
Summary
Researchers identified the human obese (ob) gene and its expression in adipose tissue. This finding advances understanding of obesity and diabetes, highlighting ob gene
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Endocrinology
Background:
- The obese (ob) gene mutation causes hereditary obesity and diabetes in mice.
- Positional cloning recently enabled the isolation of the mouse ob gene.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate a full-length human ob complementary DNA (cDNA) clone.
- To investigate the tissue distribution of ob gene expression in humans.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of a full-length human ob cDNA clone.
- Northern blot analysis to detect ob messenger RNA (mRNA) expression.
- Sequence analysis of human ob cDNA and protein.
Main Results:
- Human ob cDNA coding region shares 83% nucleotide identity with mouse/rat counterparts.
- Human ob protein is 84% homologous to mouse ob protein.
- A 4.5 kb ob mRNA species was abundantly detected in various human adipose tissues but not in other organs.
- Ob gene expression was localized to mature adipocytes within human adipose tissue.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first elucidation of ob gene expression in human tissues.
- Findings enhance understanding of the physiological and clinical implications of the ob gene in humans.
- Tissue-specific expression in adipose tissue suggests a key role in metabolic regulation.