Identification and functional analysis of novel bioactive peptides that regulate energy metabolism and food intake

本研究旨在寻找新的作用于下丘脑孤儿受体的生物活性肽，该受体控制着动物的能量代谢和摄食行为。为了筛选这些受体的候选配体，我们开发了新的活性检测系统，该系统通过细胞的微观形态变化（CellKey测定）来确定。通过使用该系统针对表达靶孤儿受体的细胞系筛选组织提取物中的候选配体。在表达某种孤儿受体的细胞中，我们检测到阻抗的显著增加，这是靶受体特异性的。我们现在正着手从该提取物中纯化活性肽。

We performed a search for newly bioactive peptides acting on orphan receptors expressed in the hypothalamus which controls the energy metabolism and feeding behavior. For screening candidate ligands of these receptors, we developed novel activity detection system which is determined by microscopic morphological changes of cells (CellKey assay). Candidate ligands in tissue extracts were screened against cell lines expressing target orphan receptors by using this system. In cells expressing a certain orphan receptor, we detected the significant increase of impedance, which was the target receptor specific. We are now proceeding to purify the active peptide from this extract.