GPR133 (ADGRD1), an adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor, is necessary for glioblastoma growth.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly primary brain malignancy with extensive intratumoral hypoxia. Hypoxic regions of GBM contain stem-like cells and are associated with tumor growth and angiogenesis. The molecular mechanisms that regulate tumor growth in hypoxic conditions are incompletely understood. Here, we use primary human tumor biospecimens and cultures to identify GPR133 (ADGRD1), an orphan member of the adhesion family of G-protein-coupled receptors, as a critical regulator of the response to hypoxia and tumor growth in GBM. GPR133 is selectively expressed in CD133+ GBM stem cells (GSCs) and within the hypoxic areas of PPN in human biospecimens. GPR133 mRNA is transcriptionally upregulated by hypoxia in hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (Hif1α)-dependent manner. Genetic inhibition of GPR133 with short hairpin RNA reduces the prevalence of CD133+ GSCs, tumor cell proliferation and tumorsphere formation in vitro. Forskolin rescues the GPR133 knockdown phenotype, suggesting that GPR133 signaling is mediated by cAMP. Implantation of GBM cells with short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of GPR133 in the mouse brain markedly reduces tumor xenograft formation and increases host survival. Analysis of the TCGA data shows that GPR133 expression levels are inversely correlated with patient survival. These findings indicate that GPR133 is an important mediator of the hypoxic response in GBM and has significant protumorigenic functions. We propose that GPR133 represents a novel molecular target in GBM and possibly other malignancies where hypoxia is fundamental to pathogenesis.

Mechanism of the anti-obesity effects induced by a novel melanin-concentrating hormone 1-receptor antagonist in mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is an orexigenic neuropeptide expressed in the lateral hypothalamus that is involved in feeding and body weight regulation. Intracerebroventricular infusion of a peptidic MCH1 receptor antagonist ameliorated obesity in murine models. Recently, small molecule MCH1 receptor antagonists have been developed and characterized for the treatment of obesity. However, little is known of the mechanism of the anti-obesity effects of MCH1 receptor antagonists. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: To examine the mechanisms of action of the anti-obesity effect of MCH1 receptor antagonists more precisely, we conducted a pair-feeding study in mice with diet-induced obesity (DIO), chronically treated with an orally active and highly selective MCH1 receptor antagonist and examined changes in mRNA expression levels in liver, brown and white adipose tissues. We also assessed the acute effects of the MCH1 receptor antagonist in energy expenditure under thermoneutral conditions. KEY RESULTS: Treatment with the MCH1 receptor antagonist at 30 mg.kg(-1) for 1 month moderately suppressed feeding and significantly reduced body weight by 24%. In contrast, pair-feeding resulted in a smaller weight reduction of 10%. Treatment with the MCH1 receptor antagonist resulted in a higher body temperature compared with the pair-fed group. TaqMan and calorimetry data suggested that the MCH1 receptor antagonist also stimulated thermogenesis. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results indicate that an MCH1 receptor antagonist caused anti-obesity effects im mice by acting on both energy intake and energy expenditure.

Blockade of MCH1 receptor signalling ameliorates obesity and related hepatic steatosis in ovariectomized mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a cyclic orexigenic neuropeptide predominantly expressed in the lateral hypothalamus. We investigated the roles of MCH1 receptor signalling in ovariectomy (OVX)-induced obesity in female C57BL/6J mice, an animal model of postmenopausal obesity. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The effects of blocking signalling via the MCH1 receptor on OVX-induced obesity was investigated by using Mch1r deficient (KO) mice and chronic treatment with a selective MCH1 receptor antagonist. KEY RESULTS: OVX induced body weight gain and increases in the weight of visceral fat and of liver; these effects were attenuated following OVX in Mch1r KO mice. OVX-induced triglyceride (TG) accumulation and elevated expression of lipogenic genes were significantly ameliorated in the liver of Mch1r KO mice. In agreement with these results, chronic i.c.v. infusion of a selective MCH1 receptor antagonist significantly reduced body weight gain, visceral fat and liver weights in OVX mice, and hepatic TG contents and lipogenic gene expression levels were normalized. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results indicate that MCH1 receptor signalling is involved in the development of fatty liver, as well as obesity, in OVX mice, and suggest a therapeutic potential for MCH1 receptor antagonists in the treatment of obesity and fatty liver.

Orexigenic action of peripheral ghrelin is mediated by neuropeptide Y and agouti-related protein.

Ghrelin, a stomach-derived orexigenic hormone, has stimulated great interest as a potential target for obesity control. Pharmacological evidence indicates that ghrelin's effects on food intake are mediated by neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) in the central nervous system. These include intracerebroventricular application of antibodies to neutralize NPY and AgRP, and the application of an NPY Y1 receptor antagonist, which blocks some of the orexigenic effects of ghrelin. Here we describe treatment of Agrp(-/-);Npy(-/-) and Mc3r(-/-);Mc4r(-/-) double knockout mice as well as Npy(-/-) and Agrp(-/-) single knockout mice with either ghrelin or an orally active nonpeptide ghrelin agonist. The data demonstrate that NPY and AgRP are required for the orexigenic effects of ghrelin, as well as the involvement of the melanocortin pathway in ghrelin signaling. Our results outline a functional interaction between the NPY and AgRP pathways. Although deletion of either NPY or AgRP caused only a modest or nondetectable effect, ablation of both ligands completely abolished the orexigenic action of ghrelin. Our results establish an in vivo orexigenic function for NPY and AgRP, mediating the effect of ghrelin.

Short segment of human melanin-concentrating hormone that is sufficient for full activation of human melanin-concentrating hormone receptors 1 and 2.

Human melanin-concentrating hormone (hMCH) is a potent but nonselective agonist at human melanin-concentrating hormone receptors 1 and 2 (hMCH-1R and hMCH-2R, respectively). To determine the structural features of this neuropeptide which are necessary for efficient binding to and activation of the receptors, Ala-substituted, open-chain, and truncated analogues were synthesized and tested in the binding assays in CHO cells expressing hMCH-1R and hMCH-2R, and in functional assays measuring the level of intracellular calcium mobilization in human HEK-293 cells expressing these receptors. A compound consisting merely of the cyclic core of hMCH with the Arg attached to the N-terminus of the disulfide ring was found to activate both hMCH-1R and hMCH-2R about as effectively as full-length hMCH. Thus, the sequence Arg-cyclo(S-S)(Cys-Met-Leu-Gly-Arg-Val-Tyr-Arg-Pro-Cys) appears to constitute the "active core" that is necessary for agonist potency at hMCH-1R and hMCH-2R. A potent and approximately 4-fold more selective agonist at hMCH-1R than at hMCH-2R is also reported.

Insights about the biosynthesis of the avermectin deoxysugar L-oleandrose through heterologous expression of Streptomyces avermitilis deoxysugar genes in Streptomyces lividans.

BACKGROUND: The avermectins, produced by Streptomyces avermitilis, are potent anthelminthic agents with a polyketide-derived macrolide skeleton linked to a disaccharide composed of two alpha-linked L-oleandrose units. Eight contiguous genes, avrBCDEFGHI (also called aveBI-BVIII), are located within the avermectin-producing gene cluster and have previously been mapped to the biosynthesis and attachment of thymidinediphospho-oleandrose to the avermectin aglycone. This gene cassette provides a convenient way to study the biosynthesis of 2,6-dideoxysugars, namely that of L-oleandrose, and to explore ways to alter the biosynthesis and structures of the avermectins by combinatorial biosynthesis. RESULTS: A Streptomyces lividans strain harboring a single plasmid with the avrBCDEFGHI genes in which avrBEDC and avrIHGF were expressed under control of the actI and actIII promoters, respectively, correctly glycosylated exogenous avermectin A1a aglycone with identical oleandrose units to yield avermectin A1a. Modified versions of this minimal gene set produced novel mono- and disaccharide avermectins. The results provide further insight into the biosynthesis of L-oleandrose. CONCLUSIONS: The plasmid-based reconstruction of the avr deoxysugar genes for expression in a heterologous system combined with biotransformation has led to new information about the mechanism of 2,6-deoxysugar biosynthesis. The structures of the di-demethyldeoxysugar avermectins accumulated indicate that in the oleandrose pathway the stereochemistry at C-3 is ultimately determined by the 3-O-methyltransferase and not by the 3-ketoreductase or a possible 3,5-epimerase. The AvrF protein is therefore a 5-epimerase and not a 3,5-epimerase. The ability of the AvrB (mono-)glycosyltransferase to accommodate different deoxysugar intermediates is evident from the structures of the novel avermectins produced.

Identification and characterization of a second melanin-concentrating hormone receptor, MCH-2R.

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a 19-aa cyclic neuropeptide originally isolated from chum salmon pituitaries. Besides its effects on the aggregation of melanophores in fish several lines of evidence suggest that in mammals MCH functions as a regulator of energy homeostasis. Recently, several groups reported the identification of an orphan G protein-coupled receptor as a receptor for MCH (MCH-1R). We hereby report the identification of a second human MCH receptor termed MCH-2R, which shares about 38% amino acid identity with MCH-1R. MCH-2R displayed high-affinity MCH binding, resulting in inositol phosphate turnover and release of intracellular calcium in mammalian cells. In contrast to MCH-1R, MCH-2R signaling is not sensitive to pertussis toxin and MCH-2R cannot reduce forskolin-stimulated cAMP production, suggesting an exclusive G(alpha)q coupling of the MCH-2R in cell-based systems. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analysis of human and monkey tissue shows that expression of MCH-2R mRNA is restricted to several regions of the brain, including the arcuate nucleus and the ventral medial hypothalamus, areas implicated in regulation of body weight. In addition, the human MCH-2R gene was mapped to the long arm of chromosome 6 at band 6q16.2-16.3, a region reported to be associated with cytogenetic abnormalities of obese patients. The characterization of a second mammalian G protein-coupled receptor for MCH potentially indicates that the control of energy homeostasis in mammals by the MCH neuropeptide system may be more complex than initially anticipated.

L-152,804: orally active and selective neuropeptide Y Y5 receptor antagonist.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) elicits food intake through the action of hypothalamic G-protein-coupled receptors. Previous publications indicate that the Y5 receptor may represent one of these postulated hypothalamic "feeding" receptors. Using a potent and orally available Y5 antagonist L-152,804, we evaluated the involvement of the Y5 receptor in feeding regulation. L-152,804 displaced [125I]peptide YY (PYY) binding to human and rat Y5 receptors with Ki values of 26 and 31 nM, respectively, and inhibited NPY (100 nM)-induced increase in intracellular calcium levels via human Y5 receptors (IC50 = 210 nM). L-152,804 did not show significant affinity for human Y1, Y2, and Y4 receptors at a dose of 10 microM. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) (30 microg) or oral (10 mg/kg) administration of L-152,804 significantly inhibited food intake evoked by i.c.v.-injected bovine pancreatic peptide (bPP, 5 microg; a moderately selective Y4, Y5 agonist) in satiated SD rats. However L-152,804 did not significantly inhibit i.c.v. NPY (5 microg; a Y1, Y2, Y5 agonist)-induced food intake. These findings suggest that L-152,804 is a selective and potent non-peptide Y5 antagonist with oral bioavailability and brain penetrability. In addition, the anorexigenic effects of L-152,804 on bPP-induced feeding revealed participation of the Y5 receptor in feeding regulation, while i.c.v. administration of NPY does not appear to significantly contribute to Y5 stimulated food intake. We conclude that the potent and orally active Y5 antagonist, L-152,804, represents a useful tool to address the physiological role of the Y5 receptor.

Role of the Y1 receptor in the regulation of neuropeptide Y-mediated feeding: comparison of wild-type, Y1 receptor-deficient, and Y5 receptor-deficient mice.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) increases food intake through the action of hypothalamic NPY receptors. At least six subtypes of NPY, peptide YY (PYY), and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) receptors have been identified in mice. Although the involvement of Y1 and Y5 receptors in feeding regulation has been suggested, the relative importance of each of these NPY receptors and the participation of a novel feeding receptor are still unclear. To address this issue, we generated a Y1 receptor-deficient (Y1-/-) and a Y5 receptor-deficient (Y5-/-) mouse line in which we directly compared the orexigenic effects of NPY and its analogs after intracerebroventricular (icv) administration. The icv NPY-induced food intake was remarkably reduced in Y1-/- mice, but was not significantly altered by inactivation of the Y5 receptor. The Y1 receptor therefore plays a dominant role in NPY-induced feeding. Stimulation of feeding by moderately selective Y5 agonists [PYY-(3-36), human PP, and bovine PP] was reduced in Y5-/- mice, although food intake did not decrease to vehicle control levels. These results indicate that the Y5 receptor functions as one of the feeding receptors. In addition, the finding that Y5-preferring agonists still induce food intake in Y5-/- mice suggests a role for another NPY receptor(s), including the possibility of novel NPY receptors. Surprisingly, despite the limited efficacy of PYY-(3-36) and PPs at the Y1 receptor, food consumption induced by these agonists was significantly diminished in Y1-/- mice compared with that in wild-type controls. These observations suggest that the feeding stimulation induced by NPY and its analogs may be directly or indirectly modulated by the action of the Y1 receptor. We conclude that multiple NPY receptors, possibly including the novel feeding receptor, are involved in the feeding response evoked by NPY and its analogs. Among them, the Y1 receptor plays a key role in NPY-induced feeding in mice.

Molecular analysis of a new splice variant of the human melanocortin-1 receptor.

The primary hormonal regulator of pigmentation is melanocyte stimulating hormone derived from proopiomelanocortin by proteolytic processing. The melanocortin-1 receptor serves a key role in the regulation of pigmentation. We describe the identification of the first intron within a melanocortin receptor. A new melanocortin-1 receptor isoform, generated by alternative mRNA splicing, encodes an additional 65 amino acids at the predicted intracellular, C-terminal tail of the melanocortin-1 receptor. When expressed in heterologous cells, the new spliced form of the melanocortin-1 receptor (melanocortin-1 receptor B) appears pharmacologically similar to the non-spliced melanocortin-1 receptor. Melanocortin-1 receptor B is expressed in testis, fetal heart and melanomas.

JTc prolongation with d,l-sotalol in women versus men.

Women are at increased risk for torsades de pointes associated with a variety of drugs that prolong ventricular repolarization, but few data exist regarding possible sex differences in extent of repolarization changes with these medications. We sought to compare JTc interval responses in women and men during treatment with d,l-sotalol. The study cohort consisted of 1,897 patients (26% women) with available baseline and > or =1 on-drug electrocardiogram from a database involving patients exposed to oral d,l-sotalol without developing torsades de pointes. The mean lowest and highest daily d,l-sotalol dose, normalized for weight, was not significantly different between sexes. At each dosing extreme, on-drug JTc was significantly longer in women (p < or =0.0002). Statistically independent predictors of on-drug JTc included gender (p = 0.003), baseline JTc (p = 0.0001), dose (p = 0.0001), serum creatinine (p < or =0.03), and history of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias (p = 0.01). In both men and women, as baseline JTc increased, the drug-induced increment in JTc became progressively smaller. Thus, in response to d,l-sotalol, JTc intervals become longer in women than in men. This sex difference is independent of dose and not solely attributable to the known gender disparity in baseline JTc. The greater propensity of women to drug-induced torsades de pointes may represent the most extreme expression of a basic sex difference in the response to medications that prolong ventricular repolarization.

NPY-induced feeding involves the action of a Y1-like receptor in rodents.

We have reported that the potent peptidic Y1 antagonist, 1229U91, significantly suppressed NPY-induced and spontaneous feeding [32,33]. However, information on the precise selectivity of 1229U91 for NPY receptors is lacking. The Y5 receptor has been considered a key receptor for feeding regulation. In the present study we showed that 1229U91 has high affinities for the human and rat Y1 receptors (Ki = 0.041 nM and 0.16 nM, respectively) and also a high affinity for the human Y4 receptor (Ki = 0.33 nM), whereas it shows moderate affinities for the human Y2, Y5 and rat Y5 receptors (K values of 20-170 nM). Moreover, 1229U91 potently inhibits NPY-induced [Ca2+]i increases in cells expressing human Y1 receptors. In contrast, 1229U91 is an agonist at other NPY receptors like the Y2, Y4 and Y5 receptors. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.)-injected 1229U91 (30 microg/head) significantly suppressed human NPY-induced feeding in SD rats, while 1229U91 only moderately inhibited bovine pancreatic polypeptide (bPP; an in vivo Y5 agonist)-induced feeding. These results indicate that the food intake evoked by NPY might be mediated by the Y1 receptor, rather than the Y5 receptor. Thus, the Y1 receptor or possibly a novel Y1-like receptor sensitive to 1229U91 may play a key role in the regulation of NPY-induced feeding.

Distribution of orexin receptor mRNA in the rat brain.

The expression pattern of mRNA encoding two orexin receptors (OX1R and OX2R) in the rat brain was examined. OX1R and OX2R exhibited marked differential distribution. Within the hypothalamus, OX1R mRNA is most abundant in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus whereas OX2R is predominantly expressed in the paraventricular nucleus. High levels of OX1R mRNA were also detected in tenia tecta, the hippocampal formation, dorsal raphe, and locus coeruleus. OX2R mRNA is mainly expressed in cerebral cortex, nucleus accumbens, subthalamic and paraventricular thalamic nuclei, anterior pretectal nucleus. The presence of orexin receptor mRNA in the hypothalamus is in support of its proposed role in feeding regulation. Broad central distribution of orexin receptors may indicate additional functions for orexins.

Mortality in the Survival With ORal D-sotalol (SWORD) trial: why did patients die?

The Survival With ORal D-sotalol (SWORD) trial tested the hypothesis that the prophylactic administration of oral d-sotalol would reduce total mortality in patients surviving myocardial infarction (MI) with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of < or = 40%. Two index MI groups were included: recent (6 to 42 days) and remote (> 42 days) with clinical heart failure (n = 915 and 2,206, respectively). The trial was discontinued when the statistical boundary for harm was crossed (RR = 1.65; p = 0.006). All baseline variables known to be associated with mortality risk (e.g., LVEF, heart failure class, age) as well as variables related to torsades de pointes (e.g., time from beginning of therapy, QTc, gender, potassium, renal function, dose of d-sotalol) were assessed for interaction of each variable with treatment assignment, computing RR and 95% confidence interval (CI) from Cox regression models. The d-sotalol-associated mortality was greatest in the group with remote MI and LVEFs of 31% to 40% (RR = 7.9; 95% CI 2.4 to 26.2). Most variables known to be associated with torsades de pointes were not differentially predictive of d-sotalol-associated risk, except female gender (RR = 4.7; 95% CI 1.4 to 16.5). These findings suggest that (1) most of the d-sotalol-associated risk was in patients remote from MI with a LVEF of 31% to 40%; comparable placebo patients had a very low mortality (0.5%); and (2) very little objective data supports torsades de pointes or any specific proarrhythmic mechanism as an explanation for d-sotalol-associated mortality risk.

Production of the antitumor drug epirubicin (4'-epidoxorubicin) and its precursor by a genetically engineered strain of Streptomyces peucetius.

A fermentation method that bypasses the low-yielding semisynthesis of epirubicin (4'-epidoxorubicin) and 4'-epidaunorubicin, important cancer chemotherapy drugs, has been developed for Streptomyces peucetius. This bacterium normally produces the anthracycline antibiotics, doxorubicin and daunorubicin; the 4'-epimeric anthracyclines are formed by introducing the heterologous Streptomyces avermitilis avrE or Saccharopolyspora eryBIV genes into an S. peucetius dnmV mutant blocked in the biosynthesis of daunosamine, the deoxysugar component of these antibiotics. Product yields were enhanced considerably by replacing the chromosomal copy of dnmV with avrE and by introducing further mutations that can increase daunorubicin and doxorubicin yields in the wild-type strain. This method demonstrates that valuable hybrid antibiotics can be made by combinatorial biosynthesis with bacterial deoxysugar biosynthesis genes.

The side effect profile of class III antiarrhythmic drugs: focus on d,l-sotalol.

Class III antiarrhythmic drugs have been under extensive clinical investigation as safer, more effective alternatives to class I drugs, which have recognized risks in selected populations. Class III drugs prolong the action potential duration of myocardial cells, resulting in a lengthening of the effective refractory period. This pharmacologic activity has antiarrhythmic properties, but it may induce a distinctive form of proarrhythmia known as torsades de pointes. Amiodarone and d,l-sotolol are class III drugs that have been available for many years. In addition to their ability to prolong refractoriness, these drugs have other pharmacodynamic properties. Recent antiarrhythmic drug discovery has focused on the identification and development of selective or so-called pure class III drugs that are devoid of additional actions. Investigators have hoped that these drugs would be as effective as sotalol and amiodarone but have fewer adverse effects. Accumulating data, however, indicate that complex compounds exhibiting antiadrenergic and other electrophysiologic properties may be superior to pure class III agents.

Sex difference in risk of torsade de pointes with d,l-sotalol.

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that women are more prone than men to develop torsade de pointes (TdP) in a defined cohort of patients exposed to the QT-prolonging antiarrhythmic drug d,l-sotalol. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a database derived from 22 clinical trials involving 3135 adult patients who received oral d,l-sotalol (median follow-up, 164 days), TdP developed in 44 (1.9%) of 2336 men and in 33 (4.1%) of 799 women (P < .001). Logistic regression analysis identified female sex (P < .0001), presenting arrhythmia of sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (P < .0001), history of congestive heart failure (P < .001), and d,l-sotalol dose > 320 mg/d (P < .001) as factors most predictive of TdP; in addition to these, a serum creatinine > 1.4 mg/dL in women and > 1.6 mg/dL in men was weakly predictive (P < .05). After adjustment for these risk factors, women had threefold greater odds of developing TdP than men. The sex difference in TdP risk was age independent and could not be explained by differential dose-related bradycardic responses in women versus men. CONCLUSIONS: Women are at increased risk of developing TdP during-administration of d,l-sotalol. This finding needs to be taken into account, together with other TdP risk factors, when patients are treated with this antiarrhythmic agent. Given the consistency between the present and other recent observations, greater caution in women regarding use of QT-prolonging drugs, in general, is advisable.

Effect of d-sotalol on mortality in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after recent and remote myocardial infarction. The SWORD Investigators. Survival With Oral d-Sotalol.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction is associated with an increased risk of death. Other studies have suggested that a potassium-channel blocker might reduce this risk with minimal adverse effects. We investigated whether d-sotalol, a pure potassium-channel blocker with no clinically significant beta-blocking activity, could reduce all-cause mortality in these high-risk patients. METHODS: Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% or less and either a recent (6-42 days) myocardial infarction or symptomatic heart failure with a remote (> 42 days) myocardial infarction were randomly assigned d-sotalol (100 mg increased to 200 mg twice daily, if tolerated) or matching placebo twice daily. FINDINGS: After 3121 of the planned 6400 patients had been recruited, the trial was stopped. Among 1549 patients assigned d-sotalol, there were 78 deaths (5.0%) compared with 48 deaths (3.1%) among the 1572 patients assigned placebo (relative risk 1.65 [95% CI 1.15-2.36], p = 0.006). Presumed arrhythmic deaths (relative risk 1.77 [1.15-2.74], p = 0.008) accounted for the increased mortality. The effect was greater in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 31-40% than in those with lower (

Cloning and expression of a novel neuropeptide Y receptor.

The neuropeptide Y family of peptides, which includes neuropeptide Y (NPY), peptide YY (PYY), and pancreatic polypeptide (PP), are found in the central and peripheral nervous system and display a wide array of biological activities. These actions are believed to be mediated through pharmacologically distinct G protein-coupled receptors, and, to date, three members of the NPY receptor family have been cloned. In this study we describe the cloning and expression of a novel NPY receptor from mouse genomic DNA. This receptor, designated NPY Y5, shares 60% amino acid identity to the murine NPY Y1 receptor. The pharmacology of this novel receptor resembles that of the NPY Y1 receptor and is distinct from that described for the NPY Y2, Y3, and Y4 receptors. In situ hybridization of mouse brain sections reveals expression of this receptor within discrete regions of the hypothalamus including the suprachiasmatic nucleus, anterior hypothalamus, bed nucleus stria terminalis, and the ventromedial nucleus with no localization apparent elsewhere in the brain.