Synaptic, Ciba-Geigy Ltd. other research news

SNAP and Ciba-Geigy researchers have cloned a new subtype of neuropeptide Y receptor, which is found in the brain regions that are known to regulate food intake. NPY is a potent stimulator of food intake. The Y5 receptor is distinct from other known Y receptors, with less than 35 percent identity of amino-acid sequence.

The report, in Nature, suggests the Y5 receptor could be the previously postulated feeding receptor where NPY exerts its powerful stimulation of eating. The messenger RNA for Y5 is found primarily in the central nervous system.The receptor also is abundant in a pathway to the amygdala, an emotional center in the brain, suggesting a role in the emotional aspects of eating. ...