Nutritional Biochemistry - Questions & Answers

Running head: NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY1
Introduction
The following sections of this paper will briefly expound upon the function, importance
and location of the interactions between the hormone leptin and the leptin receptor of the body.
Discussion
Question 1
The two components which are a part of the chosen protein-ligand pair are: the hormone
leptin and leptin receptor. Leptin is the hormone responsible for the regulation of feelings of
satiety and balance of energy via inflicting restrictions on hunger. Leptin receptor as the name
suggests is a protein and cytokine receptor associated of the type I category which undergoes
expression by the LEPR gene and is specifically responsible as a receptor of the adipocyte
exclusive hormone leptin (Huerta et al., 2017).
Question 2
The primary biological functions which are a result of the interaction between leptin
hormone and leptin receptor are: reduction in the feelings of hunger, and increase in feelings of
satiety which in turn, assists in regulation of the levels of energy expenditure and balance via
decreasing the storage of lipids across adipocytes (Uddin & Mohammad, 2016). The purpose of
the interaction between leptin hormone and leptin receptor is to regulate the storage of adipose
tissue and energy intake of the body via stimulating satiety and exercising control over the intake
of excessive food. Additional purposes which are fulfilled by the interaction between leptin
hormone and leptin receptor include: immune cell, growth factor and beta islet cell activation as
well as regulation of metabolism between mother and fetus during pregnancy (Li et al., 2017).

NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY2
Question 3
The key cellular pathways associated with the functions served by the interaction
between leptin hormone and leptin receptor include the hypothalamus and the central nervous
system. The hormone leptin is prepared within adipose tissue, thus rendering it the classification
of being lipid or fat specific. Leptin exerts its action upon the leptin receptors which are
prevalent across various cells and tissues of the body, which in turn stimulates the hypothalamus
via the central nervous system, an area responsible for feelings of rewards, pleasure and mood
associated with hunger, intake of food and engagement in physical activity (Yang et al., 2016).
Additional key functions which occur as a result of the interactions between leptin hormone and
leptin receptor are associated with endocrine system regulated metabolic pathways such as:
regulation in the functions of glucagon, insulin, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor,
glucocorticoids, cytokines and metabolites (Talati et al., 2018).
Question 4
The hormone leptin and leptin receptor interact at the molecular level via interaction
occurring across various five domains prevalent in the extracellular region of this cytokine
receptor. Structural features reflecting within those present in immunoglobulins are responsible
for mediating this interaction. The second structural domain of the leptin receptor which
comprising of a structure similar to immunoglobulin is essential for this interaction via ligand
binding with leptin which in turn, results in a change in the conformation of this receptor
(Rodrigo et al., 2018). The second domain of the leptin receptor, is known as cytokine receptor
homology (CHR2) – which has not been evidenced to yield essential ligand binding functions
but may still exert some form of regulation and mediation upon this protein-ligand interaction.
Indeed, it has been examined deletion or absence of this domain within the leptin receptor results