Leptin receptor

Leptin receptor also known as LEP-R or OB-R is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LEPR gene. LEP-R functions as a receptor for the fat cell-specific hormone leptin. LEP-R has also been designated as CD295 (cluster of differentiation 295).

After co-discovering the Leptin gene with Jeffrey Friedman et al. in 1994, which involved a reverse genetic/positional cloning strategy to clone ob and db, Rudolph Leibel, working with collaborators at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and colleague Streamson Chua, confirmed cloning of the leptin receptor by demonstrating that an apparent leptin receptor cloned from a choroid plexus library using leptin as ligand, mapped to a physical map that included db and fa.

Function

The leptin hormone regulates adipose-tissue mass through hypothalamus effects on hunger and energy use. It acts through the leptin receptor (LEP-R), a single-transmembrane-domain receptor of the cytokine receptor family.

Clinical significance

Variations in the leptin receptor have been associated with obesity and with increased susceptibility to Entamoeba histolytica infections.