ZNF423 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Our previous study revealed that the thermogenic activity of Zfp423-deficient adipocytes was dependent on active β-adrenergic signaling (Shao et al., 2016); it is well appreciated that rodent obesity is associated with augmented β-adrenergic receptor signaling (Collins et al., 1999; Collins and Surwit, 2001).