Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) is an anorexigenic neuropeptide that attenuates food intake and increases energy expenditure. We designed three series of new lipidized PrRP31 analogs of different lengths of fatty acids attached at amino acids 1 or 11 directly or via linkers, part of them acetylated at the N-terminus and/or modified with dichlorophenylalanine (PheCl2) at the C-terminus. We tested their affinity for and activation of signaling pathways relevant to receptors GPR10, NPFF-R2, and NPFF-R1, effect on food intake in fasted or freely fed mice and rats, and stability in rat plasma. We aimed to select a strong dual GPR10/NPFF-R2 agonist whose affinity for NPFF-1 was not enhanced. The selected potent analog was then tested for body weight-lowering potency after chronic administration in mice with diet-induced obesity. PrRP31 analogs lipidized by monocarboxylic fatty acids showed strong dual affinity for both GPR10 and NPFF-R2 and activated MAPK/ERK1/2, Akt and CREB in cells overexpressing GPR10 and NPFF-R2. The selected analog stabilized at N- and C-termini and palmitoylated through the TTDS linker to Lys11 is a powerful dual agonist GPR10/NPFF-R2 at not enhanced affinity for NPFF-R1. It showed strong anti-obesity properties in mice with diet-induced obesity and became a potential compound for further studies.

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry CAS Prague 166 10 Czech Republic

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry CAS Prague 166 10 Czech Republic; 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague 121 08 Czech Republic

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry CAS Prague 166 10 Czech Republic; Institute of Physiology CAS Prague 142 00 Czech Republic

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry CAS Prague 166 10 Czech Republic; University of Chemistry and Technology Prague 166 28 Czech Republic

University of Chemistry and Technology Prague 166 28 Czech Republic

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Deficiency of GPR10 and NPFFR2 receptors leads to sex-specific prediabetic syndrome and late-onset obesity in mice

NPFFR2-deficient mice fed a high-fat diet develop strong intolerance to glucose