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Lecture

Regulation of Hair Color and Food Intake

In course

BIO-105: Cellular biology and biochemistry for engineers

Basic course in biochemistry as well as cellular and molecular biology for non-life science students enrolling at the Master or PhD thesis level from various engineering disciplines. It reviews essential notions necessary for a training in biology-related ...

Description

This lecture covers the regulation of hair color based on CAMP concentration in melanocytes, the role of CAMP as a regulatory molecule in different organisms, the function of the Mc1R receptor in defining hair color, the evolutionary significance of hair color switches, and the impact of mutations in the Mc4R receptor on food intake regulation.

Instructor

Romain Zufferey

Official source

Related concepts (26)

Cell signaling

In biology, cell signaling (cell signalling in British English) or cell communication is the ability of a cell to receive, process, and transmit signals with its environment and with itself. Cell signaling is a fundamental property of all cellular life in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Signals that originate from outside a cell (or extracellular signals) can be physical agents like mechanical pressure, voltage, temperature, light, or chemical signals (e.g., small molecules, peptides, or gas).

Cell surface receptor

Cell surface receptors (membrane receptors, transmembrane receptors) are receptors that are embedded in the plasma membrane of cells. They act in cell signaling by receiving (binding to) extracellular molecules. They are specialized integral membrane proteins that allow communication between the cell and the extracellular space. The extracellular molecules may be hormones, neurotransmitters, cytokines, growth factors, cell adhesion molecules, or nutrients; they react with the receptor to induce changes in the metabolism and activity of a cell.

Obesity

Obesity is a medical condition, sometimes considered a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it negatively affects health. People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a person's weight divided by the square of the person's height—is over 30kg/m2; the range 25kg/m2 is defined as overweight. Some East Asian countries use lower values to calculate obesity.

Melanocortin 1 receptor

The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), also known as melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (MSHR), melanin-activating peptide receptor, or melanotropin receptor, is a G protein–coupled receptor that binds to a class of pituitary peptide hormones known as the melanocortins, which include adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and the different forms of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH). It is coupled to Gαs and upregulates levels of cAMP by activating adenylyl cyclase in cells expressing this receptor.

Receptor (biochemistry)

In biochemistry and pharmacology, receptors are chemical structures, composed of protein, that receive and transduce signals that may be integrated into biological systems. These signals are typically chemical messengers which bind to a receptor and produce physiological responses such as change in the electrical activity of a cell. For example, GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter inhibits electrical activity of neurons by binding to GABA_A receptors.

Related lectures (31)

Melanocytes and Hair Color Regulation

Examines paracrine communication in melanocytes, CAMP influence on hair color, Mc4R mutations, and fur phenotypes.

Cell Signaling: Receptors and Communication Pathways

Explores cell signaling pathways, hormone actions, red hair genetics, hair color determination, and food intake regulation.

Cell Signaling: Receptors and Hormones

Explores cell signaling, hormone action, genetic basis of red hair, and melanin production.

Cellular Communication: Signaling Pathways and Receptors

Delves into the importance of intercellular communication and the diverse signaling pathways involved in cellular responses.

Cell Signalling: Receptors and Pathways