Explore intuitive guides and resources designed to help you get the most out of GeneGlobe. Whether you're designing assays, browsing curated panels, or diving into analysis tools—find practical help to accelerate your research journey.
This gene encodes a protein that is secreted by white adipocytes into the circulation and plays a major role in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Circulating leptin binds to the leptin receptor in the brain, which activates downstream signaling pathways that inhibit feeding and promote energy expenditure. This protein also has several endocrine functions, and is involved in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses, hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, reproduction, bone formation and wound healing. Mutations in this gene and its regulatory regions cause severe obesity and morbid obesity with hypogonadism in human patients. A mutation in this gene has also been linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus development. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2017]
A protein domain is a distinct structural or functional region within a protein that can evolve, function, and exist independently of the rest of the protein chain. These domains in human LEP often fold into stable, three-dimensional structures and are associated with specific biological functions, such as binding to DNA, other proteins, or small molecules.
Leptin
hormone
protein binding
receptor binding
cytokine
growth factor
DNA binding
Pathways
Biological processes and signaling networks where the LEP gene in human plays a role, providing insight into its function and relevance in health or disease.
The most significant associations for this gene, including commonly observed domains, pathway involvement, and functional highlights based on current data.
Locations within the cell where the protein is known or predicted to be active, providing insight into its function and cellular context.
Extracellular Space
low-density microsomal fraction
cytoplasmic rim
Cytoplasm
cell surface
perinuclear region
Nucleus
Endoplasmic Reticulum
cytosol
apical cell surfaces
secretory vesicles
secretory granules
plasma
Gene Ontology Annotations
Describes the biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions associated with the human LEP gene, providing context for its role in the cell.
Biological Process
Functions and activities the gene product is involved in
regulation of brown fat cell differentiation
insulin secretion
negative regulation of appetite
positive regulation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor signaling pathway
determination of adult lifespan
regulation of angiogenesis
positive regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT protein
central nervous system neuron development
regulation of cytokine production involved in inflammatory response
adult feeding behavior
glucose metabolic process
negative regulation of glucagon secretion
positive regulation of developmental growth
ovulation from ovarian follicle
regulation of insulin secretion
fatty acid beta-oxidation
response to hypoxia
positive regulation of ion transport
cellular response to leptin stimulus
cellular response to L-ascorbic acid
energy homeostasis
positive regulation of tumor necrosis factor production
regulation of nitric-oxide synthase activity
regulation of cell cycle
regulation of intestinal cholesterol absorption
positive regulation of TOR signaling cascade
intracellular signal transduction
negative regulation of appetite by leptin-mediated signaling pathway
positive regulation of hepatic stellate cell activation
tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT protein
positive regulation of protein import into nucleus
positive regulation of insulin receptor signaling pathway
bone mineralization involved in bone maturation
leptin-mediated signaling pathway
positive regulation of T cell proliferation
circadian rhythm
regulation of natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity
cardiac muscle hypertrophy
positive regulation of p38MAPK cascade
positive regulation of JAK-STAT cascade
T cell differentiation
positive regulation of interleukin-8 production
aorta development
negative regulation of autophagy
glucose homeostasis
response to estradiol stimulus
positive regulation of luteinizing hormone secretion
response to activity
prostaglandin secretion
sexual reproduction
positive regulation of interleukin-6 production
positive regulation of protein kinase B signaling cascade
negative regulation of glutamine transport
negative regulation of cartilage development
negative regulation of vasoconstriction
cholesterol metabolic process
response to dietary excess
placenta development
regulation of lipoprotein lipid oxidation
bile acid metabolic process
eating behavior
cellular response to insulin stimulus
negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter
response to ethanol
elastin metabolic process
intestinal absorption
response to insulin stimulus
angiogenesis
positive regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion
regulation of steroid biosynthetic process
positive regulation of reactive oxygen species metabolic process
response to vitamin E
negative regulation of glucose import
energy reserve metabolic process
female pregnancy
positive regulation of MAPK cascade
regulation of gluconeogenesis
hormone metabolic process
regulation of blood pressure
glycerol biosynthetic process
adipose tissue development
regulation of natural killer cell activation
positive regulation of interleukin-12 production
cellular response to retinoic acid
regulation of bone remodeling
negative regulation of apoptotic process
regulation of natural killer cell proliferation
positive regulation of protein phosphorylation
lipid metabolic process
phagocytosis
regulation of endothelial cell proliferation
negative regulation of lipid storage
leukocyte tethering or rolling
Cellular Component
Where in the cell the gene product is active
extracellular space
cytosol
extracellular region
Molecular Function
What the gene product does at the molecular level
DNA binding
protein binding
peptide hormone receptor binding
hormone activity
Gene-Specific Assays for Results You Can Trust
Streamline your workflow with assays designed for this gene. Our targeted dPCR and qPCR assays help you generate meaningful data – efficiently and accurately.