Articles tagged with Neuropeptides
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Scientists have discovered a potential new treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer by identifying the molecule Neuropeptide Y (NPY) as a key driver of its spread. Blocking NPY's function has been shown to reduce cancer cell movement and metastatic outgrowth, potentially limiting disease progression.
Researchers have constructed a comprehensive map of synaptic connections between clock neurons in Drosophila, identifying novel neurons and connections that influence feeding, mating, and sleep behaviors. The study also reveals the role of light input pathways and neurotransmitters in regulating clock neuron function.
Researchers discovered a new component of the peripheral nervous system that acts by increasing energy metabolism in the body. This finding paves the way for simpler and cheaper drugs to control obesity and weight gain.
Researchers at Brown University have found a way to extend the lifespan of flies by suppressing a hormone that regulates insulin secretion. The study suggests that certain medications used to treat human obesity and diabetes may also impact aging, making it a promising area of research for future studies.
Researchers investigated peptide clumping behavior using molecular dynamics simulations and AI techniques. They discovered that aromatic amino acids enhance aggregation, while hydrophilic ones inhibit it, offering insights into peptide structure and function.
Salk researchers created tools to study neuropeptides, finding they control the brain's fear response in mice. Neuropeptides are released during a mild stimulus, triggering fear behaviors, which can be reduced by silencing their release.
Researchers have discovered a brain circuit that mediates panic disorder, consisting of specialized neurons that send and receive the neuropeptide PACAP. Inhibiting PACAP signaling reduces panic symptoms, offering promising findings for future treatments.
A team of scientists has created the first comprehensive map of a worm's nervous system, showing how neurons communicate wirelessly through neuropeptides. The study reveals complex networks with distinct hubs and connections that transcend traditional synaptic pathways.
A Penn State-led research team discovered that somatostatin signaling acts to dampen communication among cell types in the prefrontal cortex, promoting exploratory and risk-taking-like behavior. The findings suggest that somatostatin fine-tunes circuits to promote certain behaviors, including decision making.
Researchers found that dietary fructose is necessary for increased germline stem cells after mating, which leads to enhanced post-mating egg production. The study reveals that circulating fructose stimulates the fructose-specific taste receptor in insects.
Researchers have developed a new method to study ant brain chemistry, revealing differences in neuropeptide distribution between two species. The approach integrates 3D chemical data with high-definition anatomical models, providing unbiased visualization of neurochemistry.
Researchers found that a specific neuropeptide affects two separate groups of neurons, promoting aggressive behavior in fruit flies. This discovery provides new insights into the complex mechanisms of neuronal communication using neuropeptides.
Researchers found that a neuropeptide called GLWamide regulates feeding in jellyfish, while myoinhibitory peptide (MIP) does the same in fruit flies. The discovery highlights the deep evolutionary origins of a conserved satiety signal.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have discovered that the orientation of a single amino acid in peptides can direct activation to specific neurons, influencing communication among brain cells. This finding has far-reaching implications for understanding and regulating signaling processes in the brain.
Research reveals TBX3 as a fate determinant controlling hypothalamic KNDy neuron development and puberty onset. Multiple TBX3 mutants fail to form phase-separated condensates, leading to delayed puberty in UMS patients.
A study by Okayama University researchers found that neuromedin U (NMU) is involved in metabolic processes but its 'anti-hunger' function may not be crucial for rats. Unlike mice, NMU expression is restricted in the rat brain and does not suppress feeding behavior.
Researchers developed a novel intranasal delivery system that utilizes the trigeminal nerve to deliver antidepressant drugs to the brain. The system showed efficacy at delivering the same dose as intracerebroventricular administration, highlighting a potential new approach for treating depression and other neurological disorders.
A novel fluorescent sensor has been developed to visualize the release of oxytocin, also known as the 'happy hormone', in living animals. The sensor, called MTRIA OT, allows for real-time measurement of extracellular oxytocin dynamics in the brain, revealing variability in OT levels dependent on behavioral and physical conditions.
Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University identified a novel neural pathway in the brain that processes touch information, which plays a crucial role in social behavior. The thalamo-hypothalamic neural pathway uses PTH2 as a neurotransmitter and facilitates friendly social interactions between rats.
A new study reveals key clues about the form of the most ancestral nervous system and how it first evolved. Researchers found that neurons, possibly the most complicated cell type ever to evolve, share similar structures with comb jellies and other ancient animal lineages.
A joint research team reveals a distinct developmental transition for the neural microcircuit in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), featuring dense electrical coupling and sparse chemical synapses. The study provides a solid microcircuit basis for understanding hypothalamic functions.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have identified a neural circuit and neuropeptide that transmit the sensation of pleasant touch from the skin to the brain. The discovery may help scientists better understand disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, which often involve impaired social development.
A UC San Diego study found that excessive neuropeptide secretion by neuroendocrine cells in the lungs can lead to fluid buildup and poor oxygenation in both infant lung disease and COVID-19. Blocking these neuropeptides may be an effective treatment for conditions marked by excess lung fluid.
Scientists have developed a genetically encoded biosensor called OxLight1, which enables them to study the action and release mechanisms of neuropeptides like orexin in living mice. The researchers found that the level of orexin release correlates with neuronal activity, revealing previously invisible aspects of healthy brain function.
Researchers identified Dh31, a signaling molecule released from the fly's gastrointestinal tract, which switches focus from eating to mating. The study provides mechanistic explanation for how Dh31 acts on brain to change motivational drive of critical behaviors.
A team of researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory has developed a system called HySyn, which uses neuropeptides from Hydra to synthetically reconnect neural circuits in the C. elegans brain. This allows for the creation of an artificial synapse that rewires a behavioral circuit, enabling the worm to communicate more effectively.
Researchers found that injecting SK/CCK-type neuropeptides into starfish retracts their stomachs and makes them less inclined to eat, even with food in front of them. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary conservation of feeding regulation mechanisms across animals.
Researchers discover that gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is widely conserved among vertebrates, but the NMB/bombesin system has diversified in some lineages. GRP has evolved independently from a single ancestral homologue and plays a role in regulating energy intake and expenditure in both amphibians and mammals.
A study of 92 adolescents found that girls are more likely to develop high blood pressure and dyslipidemia associated with obesity. The researchers believe personalized treatment is needed due to differences in hormone and neuropeptide profiles between girls and boys, regardless of weight and age.
Researchers have identified 35 known and one new neuropeptide produced by the American cockroach that could be targeted for pest control. The neuropeptides' expression varies by tissue, developmental stage, and sex, making some more suitable targets than others.
A team of researchers has identified 122 peptides from the Asian citrus psyllid that may help combat citrus greening disease. The peptides are derived from the insect's own neuropeptides and have shown promise as potential insecticides for use in citrus groves.
Researchers at KAIST found that neuropeptide somatostatin improves visual processing and cognitive functions by reducing excitatory inputs to parvalbumin-positive interneurons. The study provides a new insight into the therapeutics of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease.
A UCLA-led study identified neuropeptide Y as a clear predictor of death in patients with stable heart failure. Patients with higher levels are 10 times more likely to die within one to three years.
Researchers from IDIBELL discovered a negative correlation between orexin A and executive functions in anorexic patients, highlighting potential roles for this neuropeptide in eating disorders and cognitive processes. The study's findings may contribute to the development of biomarkers with clinical applications.
Scientists have discovered a new compound that selectively activates the NPYLR7 receptor in female mosquitoes, suppressing their host-seeking and biting behaviors. This breakthrough could lead to new ways of controlling mosquito populations and preventing diseases like dengue, Zika, and yellow fever.
Researchers detected higher levels of chemical substances in Africanized honeybee brains than in gentler strains, triggering irascible behavior. The compounds also regulate food intake and digestion in flies and mice, illustrating molecular mechanisms underlying different species' behavior evolution.
Researchers discovered that chronic social isolation leads to an increase in a specific neuropeptide called neurokinin B, which promotes aggression and fear. Blocking this peptide eliminates negative effects of isolation, suggesting potential applications for treating mental health disorders in humans.
A study on genetically diverse worms reveals that a small protein called FLP-18 controls the length of their backward movement, which increases the likelihood of changing direction to navigate towards food. This mechanism may help the worm explore a larger area during periods of extreme hunger.
Researchers have developed a new, highly sensitive LC-MS/MS method to identify and quantify Substance P (SP) and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) in rat brainstem tissue. The study's findings provide insights into the levels of these neuropeptides during migraine attacks and stress, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets.
A new study finds that mice display contagious itching behavior after observing peers, even when watching videos of others scratching. The researchers identified the suprachiasmatic nucleus as a key driver of this phenomenon.
A novel mechanism has been identified for how stress-induced anxiety affects the brain's hippocampus, leading to increased anxiety behavior. The study found that stress impairs the release of an anti-anxiety neuropeptide, which could lead to new therapeutic targets.
Biologists from Queen Mary University of London have discovered 40 new neuropeptide genes in the common European starfish, providing new insights into neural function evolution. The discovery includes a neuropeptide similar to kisspeptin, which triggers human puberty.
A team of scientists is working on a project to create new pesticides that target specific insect species without harming beneficial ones. By mimicking the hormone systems of these insects, researchers hope to disrupt their reproductive cycles and prevent population explosions.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London discovered that neuropeptide molecules in humans and insects share a common origin, linking anxiety and molting processes across species. The study used sea urchins as an evolutionary link between these disparate functions.
Researchers have identified a group of SCN neurons expressing neuromedin S that are necessary and sufficient for controlling circadian rhythms. The study provides new insights into the mechanisms by which light synchronizes body clock rhythms, offering potential targets for future treatments of diseases related to circadian dysfunction.
Researchers have identified a naturally occurring protein in the brain that can act to suppress binge alcohol drinking. The study found that Neuropeptide Y (NPY) increases inhibition on cells producing corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), leading to reduced binge drinking.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry suggests that deficits in the brain's 'off switch' for anxiety, neuropeptide Y receptors, are associated with anxious temperament. Researchers found decreased expression of two neuropeptide Y receptors in the central nucleus of the amygdala, a region crucial for regulating fear and anxiety.
Researchers found that Neuropeptide Y prevents excessive production of cytokines, reduces microglial reactivity, and inhibits N-methyl-D-aspartate current in rat cortical neurons. This study suggests a potential neuroprotective role for Neuropeptide Y in cerebral cortical neurons.
Researchers discovered that neurons can mobilize calcium from large dense core vesicles to facilitate the release of neuropeptides. This process enables fine-tuning of communication between neurons and other cells.
Researchers have sequenced the tsetse fly's genome, providing insights into its biology and potentially leading to new ways to prevent trypanosomiasis. The study's findings could also help develop environmentally-safe insecticides targeting the fly's neuropeptide systems.
Researchers found CaM Kinase II plays a significant role in controlling neuropeptide release from neurons, affecting learning, memory, social behaviors, and mood. The study's findings could lead to future therapies targeting altered mood and memory in humans.
The study found that metformin significantly reduced food intake and body weight gain by inhibiting neuropeptide Y expression in the hypothalamus. Metformin also improved lipid metabolism by reducing plasma low-density lipoprotein levels.
Researchers identified a neuropeptide named natalisin that controls reproductive ability and interest in mating in insects. The study found that knocking out natalisin in fruit flies reduced their reproductive capacity and decreased their desire for mating.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have discovered a neuropeptide called NGFFYamide that triggers the stomach contraction and retraction in starfish, enabling a unique form of external digestion. This finding has potential economic and environmental implications for controlling starfish predation.
Researchers found that intracerebroventricular injection of neuropeptide Y gene suppressed mossy fiber sprouting, inhibited abnormal synaptophysin expression, and reduced epileptic seizures. This study suggests a recombinant adeno-associated virus expression vector carrying the neuropeptide Y gene as a potential therapeutic approach.
Researchers found decreased neuropeptide Y neurons, upregulated leptin receptors, and disrupted feeding behavior pathways in rats with chronic immobilization stress. Chronic stress leads to increased leptin receptor expression and suppressed neuropeptide Y synthesis.
Researchers have published a detailed description of neurotensin's interaction with its receptor, suggesting a novel binding mechanism that may activate G-protein coupled receptors. This knowledge could lead to the development of better drugs for conditions such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.
Researchers discovered that underweight babies are more likely to become obese due to a disrupted hypothalamus, which leads to an increased appetite for calories. This results in the child consuming more calories to catch up on lost nutrition in utero, potentially leading to childhood obesity.
Researchers found that male fruit flies drink more alcohol after being rejected by females due to a molecular trigger called neuropeptide F. This discovery may help shed light on the brain mechanisms underlying social interaction and addiction in humans.
A team of Scripps Research scientists found a key biological mechanism underpinning the transition to alcohol dependence. They discovered that neuropeptide Y, a naturally occurring anti-stress agent, plays a crucial role in mediating the transition to alcohol dependence by modulating GABA release in the amygdala.