AC3: A Novel Gene Plays a Role in the Regulation of Body Weight

AC3 is one of adenylyl cyclase isoforms involved in cAMP and insulin signaling pathway. A previous study using Goto-Kakizaki rat, a non-obese type 2 diabetes model, indicates that AC3 is over-expressed in pancreatic islets. A recent genetic study has demonstrated that AC3 DNA polymorphisms are associated with body mass index (BMI) in the subjects with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, AC3 knock out mice exhibit obese when they age mainly due to low locomoter activity, hyperphagia and leptin insensitivity. These findings suggest that AC3 plays an important role in the regulation of body weight. This review summarizes genetic and biological relevancies of AC3 in the regulation of body weight and also discusses about the potential development of anti-obesity drug using AC3 as a target.