Neuropeptide Y and melanocortin receptors in fish: regulators of energy homeostasis

Abstract

Energy homeostasis, which refers to the physiological processes that the energy intake is exquisitely coordinated with energy expenditure, is critical for survival. Therefore, multiple and complex mechanisms have been involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis. The central melanocortin system plays an important role in modulating energy homeostasis. This system includes the orexigenic neurons, expressing neuropeptide Y/Agouti-related protein (NPY/AgRP), and the anorexigenic neurons expressing proopiomelanocortin (POMC). The downstream receptors of NPY, AgRP and post-translational products of POMC are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This review summarizes the compelling evidence demonstrating that NPY and melanocortin receptors are involved in energy homeostasis. Subsequently, the comparative studies on physiology and pharmacology of NPY and melanocortin receptors in humans, rodents and teleosts are summarized. Also, we provide a strategy demonstrating the potential application of the new ligands and/or specific variants of melanocortin system in aquaculture.

RNA Sequencing Analysis Reveals Divergent Adaptive Response to Hypo- and Hyper-Salinity in Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) Juveniles

“…As a result, some significantly differentially expressed genes and pathways related to salinity changes have been identified [31]. For instance, many classical ion transporters, including channels for amino acids [32], water [33], small solutes [34], calcium ions [35], sodium [36], chloride [37], and potassium [38], such as SLC (solute transport protein) families [39], AQP (aquaporin) families [40], NPY (neuropeptide Y receptor) families [41], and TRP (transient receptor potential) families are differentially expressed in the gills of teleosts under salinity changes [42]. Furthermore, researchers have also focused on pathways, including steroid biosynthesis, immune response, energy metabolism, apoptosis, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and toll-like receptor signaling pathways [43].…”

Altered Visual Function in Short-Wave-Sensitive 1 (sws1) Gene Knockout Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes) Larvae

“…Our explanation is that the sws1 −/− mutant larvae have an impaired feeding ability and still do not reach satiation after half an hour of feeding compared with the WT, so their appetitive genes are still upregulated. Numerous studies have implicated npy and agrp in the regulation of appetite and food intake in teleosts [28][29][30]. In mice, the NPY + and AgRP + signals in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) in the fasting group were significantly stronger than those in the feeding group [31].…”