神经肽Orexins的研究进展

Orexins是一组神经肽，分为orexin A、orexin B(OXA、OXB)2种，它们来源于同一前体。orexins主要由下丘脑神经元产生，通过其神经纤维的直接投射或释放冬脑脊髓液作用于靶位点，激活2种与G蛋白耦联的细胞表面受体OX1R、OX2R，参与机体对摄食、能量代谢、睡眠觉醒循环等生理活动的调节。

Advances of the Research on Orexins

Orexins are recently identified neuropeptides, in cl uding OXA and OXB derived from the same prepro-orexin. OXA is a 33-residue pep tide with two intramolecular disulfide bonds, while OXB is a linear 28-residue peptide. OXB was found to be 46%(13/28) identical in sequence to OXA. Orexins ar e produced mainly in neurons within hypothalamus, then released into cerebrospin al fluid or projected through neuro-fibres to target cells, and consequently ac tivate two types of G-protein coupled receptors, OX 1R and OX 2R. Orexins pla y an important role in the regulation of food intake, energy metabolism and slee p-wake cycle. The discovery of these peptides may be the valuable tools for obe sity, narcolepsy and cardiovascular diseases.