Animal model

Abstract

According to the invention, a major role for the winged helix protein FKHL14/FOXC2 in regulating energy balance and adiposity is demonstrated. The invention relates to transgenic non-human mammalian animals being capable of expressing the human FKHL14/FOXC2 gene in its adipose tissue. The invention also relates to methods for identifying compounds useful for the treatment of medical conditions related to obesity or diabetes, said compounds being capable of stimulating expression of the human FKHL14/FOXC2 gene, or being capable of stimulating the biological activity of a polypeptide encoded by the human FKHL14/FOXC2 gene. The invention further relates to methods for identifying compounds useful for the treatment of medical conditions related to malnutrition, said compounds being capable of decreasing expression of the human FKHL14/FOXC2 gene, or being capable of decreasing the biological activity of a polypeptide encoded by the human FKHL14/FOXC2 gene.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.