New Protein Discovery Sheds Light on Brain’s Appetite Control Mechanism

Scientists from Leipzig University and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have uncovered how the protein MRAP2 enhances appetite-suppressing signals in the brain, offering promising insights for obesity treatment. Published in Nature Communications, the study shows that MRAP2 influences the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R)—a key regulator of hunger and energy balance. Using advanced fluorescence microscopy and single-cell imaging, researchers found that MRAP2 helps transport MC4R to the cell surface, allowing it to send stronger appetite-suppressing signals. Since mutations in MC4R are among the leading genetic causes of severe obesity, this discovery opens potential pathways for developing new weight-control therapies. The interdisciplinary project, part of Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1423 and funded by the German Research Foundation, brought together experts in molecular biology, pharmacology, and imaging from Germany, Canada, and the UK to deepen understanding of receptor regulation and metabolic health.

05-10-2025