Nikolaus lngenhoven and Annette G. Beck-Sickinger* Pages 1055 - 1066 ( 12 )
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) consists of 36 amino acids and is one of the most abundant peptides in the peripheral and central nervous system. Several subtype•s of NPY receptors have been described (Y1• Y6) using segments and analogues of NPY. The Y 1-, Y2- and the Y5-receptor, which have been cloned, belong to the G-protein coupled hormone receptor family and will be specially addressed, because they are the endogenous binding sites of neuropeptide Y in human. In contrast, Y4-receptors recognize endogenous PP, Y3"receptors are discussed controversially and the y6-receptor is truncated in human. In this review, we summarize the data of neuropeptide Y with respect to ligand binding, selectivity, receptor structures and ligand- receptor complexes by using ligand analogues, site directed mutagenesis and photoaffinity labeling.