Neuropeptide Regulation of Ion Channels and Food Intake

2021 
Ion channels, the functional membrane proteins, play a critical role in controlling the membrane potential and excitability of neurons. Neuropeptides serve as important neuromodulators in the central nervous system to regulate the membrane activity of neurons by binding to neuropeptide receptors, the G-protein coupled receptors expressed on the neuronal membrane. Activation of neuropeptide receptors changes the structure of G proteins and promotes intracellular second messengers to modulate the function of ion channels coupled with neuropeptide receptors. Both voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels can be modulated by neuropeptide receptor activation. In the brain, both peripherally secreted peptides and centrally synthesized neuropeptides exert their important roles in regulating food intake and body weight. This chapter summarizes major feeding-related neuropeptides, neuropeptide receptor-coupled ion channels, and drug targets on neuropeptide signaling and ion channels for the treatment of obesity.
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