Neuropeptide W

Neuropeptide W (NPW) was identified as an endogenous ligand for two structurally related orphan G protein-coupled receptors, NPBWR1 (GPR7) and NPBWR2 (GPR8). The NPW gene encodes two forms of the peptide ligand with lengths of 23 and 30 amino acid residues as mature peptides, NPW23 and NPW30. NPBWR1 and NPBWR2 couple to the Gi-class of G-protein. In mammals, NPW has been reported to regulate many physiological processes such as food intake, energy homeostasis, obesity, neuroendocrine activity, and social behavior via its action on the central nervous system. In the periphery, NPW may be involved in the control of adrenal corticosterone secretion, pancreatic insulin secretion, and lipolysis. Direct linking between human diseases and the NPW-NPBWR system has not been clarified yet. However, NPBWR1 has been demonstrated to modulate feeding, metabolism, and obesity in male mice.