PER3 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Importantly, the repressed expression of rno-miR-29c target-regulated the expression of Period Circadian Regulator 3 (Per3), a critical circadian rhythm gene associated with obesity and diabetes; rno-miR-328 expression was induced, as well as target-regulated Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (Pcsk9), a gene that plays a crucial role in LDL receptor degradation and cholesterol metabolism.