We have shown that a diet rich in saturated fats leading to obesity results in significant upregulation of Cav1.2, HCN4, Kir2.1, NCX1, SERCA2a, and RYR2 mRNA and significant downregulation of ERG mRNA in the left ventricle. The gene discussed is ERG; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.