A peptide sequence corresponding to 14-28 aa (LLQ ANG NHA AGI LTM-AMIDE; mol wt. 1524.00) of the mouse/rat.
Several peptides associated with feeding behavior have been reported recently. Orexins (Orexin-A and Orexin-B) are a family of hypothalamic neuropeptides selectively expressed in the hypothalamus (1). Orexin-A and Orexin-B are derived from the same precursor (Prepro-orexin) by proteolytic cleavage. Prepro-orexin is 130 amino acid long peptide with a putative 33aa secretory sequence, a hydrophobic core followed by residues with small polar side chains. The expression was detected in brain and to a small extent in testis (1). These neuropeptides bind and activate two closely related Orexin receptors--G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) OX1R and OX2R.
