Spexin 1 (human, mouse, rat, bovine) (acetate) (Synonyms: Neuropeptide Q, NPQ, NWTPQAMLYLKGAQ-NH2, SPX1)

Spexin 1 is an endogenous peptide and agonist of galanin-2 receptor (GAL₂) and GAL₃.¹ It selectively activates GAL₂ and GAL₃ over GAL₁ in HEK293 cells expressing the human receptors and Gα_qi (EC₅₀s = 0.161, 0.626, and >10 µM, respectively, in reporter assays). Spexin 1 (50 µg/kg) decreases body weight, fat mass, serum triglyceride levels, and blood glucose and insulin levels in a mouse model of high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis.² Intracerebroventricular administration of spexin 1 (30 nmol/animal) decreases heart rate and urine flow rate, increases mean arterial pressure (MAP) and urinary sodium excretion, and has antinociceptive activity in the warm water tail withdrawal test in rats.³

1.Kim, D.-K., Yun, S., Son, G.H., et al.Coevolution of the spexin/galanin/kisspeptin family: Spexin activates galanin receptor type II and IIIEndocrinology155(5)1864-1873(2014) 2.Wang, M., Zhu, Z., Kan, Y., et al.Treatment with spexin mitigates diet-induced hepatic steatosis in vivo and in vitro through activation of galanin receptor 2Mol. Cell Endocrinol.552111688(2022) 3.Toll, L., Khroyan, T.V., Sonmez, K., et al.Peptides derived from the prohormone proNPQ/spexin are potent central modulators of cardiovascular and renal function and nociceptionFASEB J.26(2)947-954(2011)