As reported in
Science Translational Medicine, researchers pinpointed a protein called melanocortin 3 receptor (or MC3R) as an avenue for accessing the brain circuitry that controls the body’s energy balance and food intake.
The research offers preliminary evidence that manipulating the MC3R can either stimulate or suppress food intake.
The MC3R sits on the surface of neurons, where it sends and receives signals about the overall energy balance in the body. Although this protein is found throughout the brain, it is particularly prevalent in brain regions that are known to control feeding in both mice and humans.