The Melanocortin Receptors (The Receptors)

Content: pt. 1. Historical perspectives -- Proopiomelanocortin and the melanocortin peptides -- Melanocortins and pigmentation -- Melanocortins and adrenocortical function -- Effects of melanocortins in the nervous system -- Peripheral effects of melanocortins -- pt. 2. Characterization of the melanocortin receptors -- Melanocrotin receptor expression and function in the nervous system -- Cloning of the melanocortin receptors -- pt. 3. Biochemical mechanism of receptor action -- The molecular pharmacology of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone: structure-activity relationships for melanotropins at melanocortin receptors -- In vitro mutagenesis studies of melanocortin receptor coupling and ligand binding -- pt. 4. Receptor function -- the melanocortin-1 receptor -- The human melanocortin-1 receptor -- The melanocortin-2 receptor in normal adrenocrotical funciton and familial adrenocrorticotropic hormone resistance -- The melanocortin-3 receptor -- The melanocortin-4 receptor -- The melanocortin-5 receptor -- pt. 5. Receptor regulation -- Regulation of the melanocortin receptors by Agouti -- Melanocrotins and melanoma -- Regulation of the mouse and human melanocortin-1 receptor -- pt. 6. Future vistas -- Future vistas