CART Peptide
Evidence: DNeuroendocrine / Appetite-Energy Balance Signaling
Evidence Snapshot
What this grade covers
A for human CARTPT cDNA/genomic identity (Douglass & Daoud 1996). D for the single large-family Leu34Phe human genetic/energy-expenditure association (del Giudice 2001) -- one family, not a population-association study. D for the cellular/in-vitro processing effect of that same variant (Dominguez 2004) -- a mutation-driven expression-system finding, not a direct human plasma/CSF measurement. No direct human circulating-CART measurement study exists in the frozen set. Rat discovery biology (Douglass 1995) is rodent-mechanism context only. Overall page grade: D.
Regulatory Context
Native CART peptide is an endogenous human neuropeptide and is not itself an FDA-approved drug product.
In Plain English
A quick, research-focused overview. It does not replace, and cannot outrank, the detailed evidence below.
What is it?
A CARTPT-derived neuropeptide studied primarily in rodent feeding-inhibition circuitry.
Why are researchers interested in it?
Studied as a candidate hypothalamic satiety signal and for a rare human genetic variant linked to obesity.
What does the evidence look like?
Human evidence is thin: one large family's genetic variant plus a cellular-mechanism follow-up; no direct human plasma/CSF measurement exists.
Biggest things to know
A rare CARTPT variant (Leu34Phe) cosegregated with obesity and reduced energy expenditure in one family and altered CART processing in a cell system.
What don't we know yet?
Whether CART levels in general human blood or spinal fluid relate to appetite or body weight -- no such measurement study exists.
Research Takeaway
The human CARTPT gene and cDNA encoding CART (Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript) have been characterized.
Evidence boundary: Identity only; establishes no physiological/efficacy claim.
See all 3 evidence claims →Quick Summary
CART (Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript) is a neuropeptide from the CARTPT gene, studied mainly in rodent hypothalamic feeding-inhibition circuitry. Direct human evidence is limited to one large family's rare genetic variant.
Mechanism & Research Overview
CART (Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript) is a neuropeptide from the CARTPT gene, studied mainly in rodent hypothalamic feeding-inhibition circuitry. Direct human evidence is limited to one large family's rare genetic variant.
Evidence Claims
Individual scientific statements drawn from the sources cited below, each shown with the specific evidence boundary that statement does not establish.
Supported
The human CARTPT gene and cDNA encoding CART (Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript) have been characterized.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Identity only; establishes no physiological/efficacy claim.
Supported
A rare CARTPT missense variant (Leu34Phe) cosegregated with severe early-onset obesity and reduced resting energy expenditure across three generations of one large family.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Must not be generalized to "CART levels are altered in human obesity" as a population statement -- this is one family only.
Supported
In a cellular expression system, the Leu34Phe CARTPT variant altered CART peptide processing/levels, consistent with disrupted proCART cleavage near a basic-residue cluster.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: This Stage's PMID for the source was search-reported but not independently re-confirmed via direct PubMed fetch; must never be cited as direct human plasma/CSF measurement.
Sources: CART peptide levels are altered by a mutation associated with obesity at codon 34
Safety & Evidence Limitations
Considerations reported in the sources cited on this page — not a complete list of every possible risk, and not medical advice.
Safety Consideration
CART(55-102) and CART(62-102) appear in the literature under two different numbering conventions; no primary source in the frozen set establishes their equivalence as a settled scientific fact, so per-citation numbering must always be preserved rather than normalized.Safety Consideration
The only direct human genetic finding (Leu34Phe) comes from one large family, not a population-association study; it should not be generalized.Safety Consideration
Despite repeated targeted searches across three verification stages, no primary paper measuring CART directly in human plasma or CSF was located.
Research Areas Being Studied
Research areas discussed on this page reflect the Neuroendocrine / Appetite-Energy Balance Signaling category and the sources cited below.
Findings Reported in Studies
Educational summary only — reported in cited studies, not a claim of proven benefit.
- Mutational Screening of the CART Gene in Obese Children: Identifying a Mutation (Leu34Phe) Associated With Reduced Resting Energy Expenditure and Cosegregating With Obesity Phenotype in a Large Family (2001):
- Characterization of the human cDNA and genomic DNA encoding CART: a cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (1996):
Study Tables by Evidence Type
Human Studies & Clinical Data
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mutational Screening of the CART Gene in Obese Children: Identifying a Mutation (Leu34Phe) Associated With Reduced Resting Energy Expenditure and Cosegregating With Obesity Phenotype in a Large Family | 2001 | 130 unrelated obese Italian children/adolescents; one large multi-generation family | Leu34Phe CARTPT variant found heterozygous in one obese boy, cosegregated with severe obesity across three generations in his family (not found in controls); proband and mother had resting metabolic rates 14% and 16% below expected. | ||
| Characterization of the human cDNA and genomic DNA encoding CART: a cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript | 1996 | Human cDNA/genomic DNA | Characterization of the human CARTPT cDNA and genomic DNA, establishing the human molecular identity of CART. |
Animal / Cell / Preclinical Data
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CART peptide levels are altered by a mutation associated with obesity at codon 34 | 2004 | Cellular/in-vitro expression system using the human Leu34Phe CARTPT variant | In a cellular expression system, the Leu34Phe CARTPT variant altered CART peptide processing/levels, consistent with disrupted proCART cleavage near a basic-residue cluster. This is a cellular/mechanistic finding, NOT a direct human plasma/CSF measurement. | ||
| PCR differential display identifies a rat brain mRNA that is transcriptionally regulated by cocaine and amphetamine | 1995 | Rat striatum | Original discovery of CART: a rat brain mRNA transcriptionally upregulated ~4-5 fold by acute cocaine or amphetamine administration in the striatum. |
Regulatory Documents & Official Trial Registries
No Regulatory Documents & Official Trial Registries Listed Yet
This section will be updated as sources are added.
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Reported dosing patterns are included for educational context only. They are self-reported, unverified, not medical advice, and not instructions for human use. Community-submitted patterns are not yet available in this Phase 1 prototype; this section is a placeholder reserved for moderated, aggregated community data.
Lab Markers to Discuss With a Clinician
Educational topics only — not self-monitoring instructions.
FAQ
Disclaimer
Direct human evidence for CART is limited to one family's rare genetic variant; no study has measured CART in human blood or spinal fluid.
Educational use only. This content is provided for informational and research-summary purposes only. It is not medical advice, not a treatment recommendation, not a dosing guide, and not a substitute for care from a licensed medical professional. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or mitigate disease. Reported dosing patterns, when shown elsewhere on the site, must be labeled either as Study / Trial Dosing or Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice. Community reports are self-reported, unverified, and not scientific proof.
Community-reported experiences, once enabled, must be displayed only as moderated, anonymized, or aggregated data. They are anecdotal, self-reported, unverified, and should never be presented as proof of safety, efficacy, or expected results.
Content status: Published. Last updated 2026-08-28.
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