Attractin Like Protein 1 (ATRNL1)

The mouse ATRNL1 shares 63% sequence identity with the C-terminal part of the mouse attractin gene product (ATRN;), which is required for agouti signaling through the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R). Northern blot analysis of mouse tissues detected a major 8.5-kb Atrnl1 transcript at high levels in brain, kidney, heart, lung, and liver, and at low levels in spleen, skeletal muscle, and testis. Three minor transcripts were also detected: a 5.5-kb transcript in heart, brain, and kidney, a 5-kb transcript in liver only, and a 5.4-kb transcript in testis only. Colocalization analyses showed coexpression of Atrnl1 in cells expressing Mc4r in several regions known to be important in the regulation of energy homeostasis by melanocortins, such as the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus.