Leptin is a hormone predominantly made by adipose cells and enterocytes in the small intestine that helps to regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger, which in turn diminishes fat storage in adipocytes. The Leptin Antagonist Triple Mutant (Human Recombinant, Pegylated) is a modified form of leptin designed to counteract the effects of endogenous leptin, making it a valuable tool in research related to obesity and metabolic disorders.
The Leptin Antagonist Triple Mutant is a single non-glycosylated polypeptide chain consisting of 146 amino acids with an additional alanine at the N-terminus. The molecular weight of this protein is approximately 35.6 kDa. However, due to its pegylation, it exhibits an enlarged hydrodynamic volume, causing it to run on SDS-PAGE as a 48 kDa protein and in gel-filtration on Superdex 200 as over 200 kDa protein .
Pegylation refers to the process of attaching polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains to a molecule, in this case, the leptin antagonist. The pegylation of the Leptin Antagonist Triple Mutant involves the attachment of a 20 kDa PEG molecule. This modification enhances the stability and solubility of the protein, prolongs its half-life in circulation, and reduces immunogenicity .
The recombinant production of the Leptin Antagonist Triple Mutant is typically carried out in Escherichia coli. The protein is expressed, purified, and then pegylated using proprietary chromatographic techniques to ensure high purity and consistency. The final product is lyophilized from a concentrated solution containing 0.003 mM NaHCO3 .
The Leptin Antagonist Triple Mutant is primarily used in research to study the role of leptin in energy homeostasis, obesity, and related metabolic disorders. By inhibiting the action of endogenous leptin, researchers can better understand the physiological and pathological processes regulated by this hormone.