Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a neuropeptide found in human and mammalian brain, mainly produced by neurons in the amygdala and between Barrington's nucleus and the locus coeruleus, although NPS-responsive neurons extend projections into many other brain areas.[5][6][7] NPS binds specifically to a G protein-coupled receptor, NPSR.[8][9] Animal studies show that NPS suppresses anxiety and appetite, induces wakefulness and hyperactivity, including hyper-sexuality, and plays a significant role in the extinction of conditioned fear.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] It has also been shown to significantly enhance dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway,[16] and inhibits motility and increases permeability in neurocrine fashion acting through NO in the myenteric plexus in rats and humans.[17]
NPS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Identifiers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aliases | NPS, neuropeptide S | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
External IDs | OMIM: 609513 MGI: 3642232 HomoloGene: 106066 GeneCards: NPS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The non-peptide NPS receptor antagonist SHA-68 blocks the effects of NPS in animals and is anxiogenic.[18] Several peptide derived NPS agonists and antagonists have also been developed.[19][20][21][22][23]
Below are the sequences of mature neuropeptide S in several representative species in which it is expressed:
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species | sequence | MW |
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human | SFRNGVGTGMKKTSFQRAKS
|
2187.5 |
rat | SFRNGVGSGVKKTSFRRAKQ
|
2210.5 |
mouse | SFRNGVGSGAKKTSFRRAKQ
|
2182.5 |
dog, chimp | SFRNGVGTGMKKTSFRRAKS
|
2215.6 |
chicken | SFRNGVGSGIKKTSFRRAKS
|
2183.5 |
consensus | SFRNGVGxGXKKTSFxRAKx
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N/A |
According to Pfam's HMM logo, there is a conserved "KR" cleave site immediately N-terminal to the C-terminal mature peptide.