US 7,321,074 B1
Melanocortin-3 receptor deficient cells, non-human transgenic animals and methods of selecting compounds which regulate body weight
Leonardus H. T. Van Der Ploeg, Scotch Plains, N.J. (US); Howard Y. Chen, Westfield, N.J. (US); and Airu S. Chen, Westfield, N.J. (US)
Assigned to Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J. (US)
Appl. No. 10/129,599
PCT Filed Nov. 09, 2000, PCT No. PCT/US00/30746
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date May 08, 2002,
PCT Pub. No. WO01/33954, PCT Pub. Date May 17, 2001.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/220713, filed on Jul. 26, 2000.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/165141, filed on Nov. 12, 1999.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/165074, filed on Nov. 12, 1999.
Int. Cl. A01K 67/027 (2006.01); C12N 5/00 (2006.01); C12N 5/06 (2006.01); C12N 5/10 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 800—18  [435/325; 435/352; 435/354] 3 Claims
 
1. A transgenic mouse whose somatic cells and germ cells are homozygous for an altered melanocortin-3 receptor (MC-3R) gene and homozygous for an altered melanocortin-4 receptor (MC-4R) gene, wherein the mouse lacks functional MC-3R and MC-4R proteins, and further wherein the mouse exhibits an increased body weight compared to a non-transgenic mouse.