# Neuronal GPR149 and energy homeostasis

> **NIH NIH R03** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $163,833

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The incidence of obesity and related disorders including diabetes mellitus continue to rise. Chronic over
nutrition is prevalent, which has profound metabolic effects including causing increased systemic inflammation
and altered hepatic glucose and lipid production. Research into the molecular mechanisms underlying energy
balance are important for developing new prevention strategies, diagnostic tests and treatments in chronic
metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Notably, our emphasis on a G-protein coupled receptor
(GPCR) may lead to the development of novel pharmaceutical therapies, as these are currently the most
heavily investigated receptor groups for drug target development. Specifically, GPR149 is an orphan GPCR
about which very little is known in terms of body distribution and physiological role(s). However, our laboratory
has recently found that Gpr149 is highly expressed in a brain circuit involved in the regulation of energy
homeostasis and feeding. Hence, our data support the hypothesis that neuronal GPR149 links an unknown
metabolic cue to the neural pathways controlling energy homeostasis. Notably, using the CRISPR-Cas9
technology, we have generated a novel mouse model allowing the deletion of endogenous Gpr149 expression
in a tissue-specific manner. Using this mouse model, our proposal will directly assess the physiological role of
neuronal GPR149 in energy balance. Ultimately, the data generated under this RFA will be findable through
Pharos and serve as a basis for future efforts aimed at understanding the basic role of GPR149 signaling.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10216693
- **Project number:** 1R03TR003655-01
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Laurent Gautron
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $163,833
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-05-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10216693

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10216693, Neuronal GPR149 and energy homeostasis (1R03TR003655-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10216693. Licensed CC0.

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