Melanocortin receptors: new opportunities in drug discovery

Abstract

The cloning of five different subtypes of melanocortin receptors, MC1-5, have provided new opportunities for the discovery of drugs that may be useful for the treatment of a variety of clinically important conditions, including MC1 receptor agonists for inflammatory diseases, MC3 receptor agonists for sexual dysfunctions and MC4 receptor agonists and antagonists for treatment of obesity, anorexia and drug abuse. This review discusses patents covering the cloning of the MC receptors, the endogenous MC receptor antagonists agouti signalling peptide and agouti related protein and novel compounds target towards the MC receptors.

• agouti
• agouti related peptide
• feeding control
• melanocortin receptors
• melanocyte stimulating hormone
• organic compounds
• peptide agonists
• physiological mechanisms
• pro-opio melanocortins
• therapeutic utility