The RFamide peptide family, or the RFamide-related peptides (RFRPs), are a family of
neuropeptide
Neuropeptides are chemical messengers made up of small chains of amino acids that are synthesized and released by neurons. Neuropeptides typically bind to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to modulate neural activity and other tissues like the ...
s.
They are characterized by the possession of an Arg-Phe-NH
2 motif at their
C-terminal
The C-terminus (also known as the carboxyl-terminus, carboxy-terminus, C-terminal tail, C-terminal end, or COOH-terminus) is the end of an amino acid chain (protein or polypeptide), terminated by a free carboxyl group (-COOH). When the protein is ...
extremities.
Members of the family include:
* Neuropeptide FF group
**
Neuropeptide AF
**
Neuropeptide FF
NPFF Neuropeptide FF (FLFQPQRFa) is a mammalian amidated neuropeptide originally isolated from bovine brain and characterized as a pain-modulating peptide, with anti-opioid activity on morphine-induced analgesia.
In humans, Neuropeptide FF pepti ...
**
Neuropeptide SF (RFRP-1)
**
Neuropeptide VF (RFRP-3) (
GnIH - avian species)
*
Prolactin-releasing peptide
Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) is a peptide hormone that in humans is encoded by the ''PRLH'' gene. PrRP stimulates prolactin (PRL) release and regulates the expression of prolactin through binding to the prolactin-releasing peptide receptor ( ...
(PrRP)
*
Pyroglutamylated RFamide peptide (QRFP)
*
Kisspeptin
Kisspeptins (including kisspeptin-54 (KP-54), formerly known as metastin) are proteins encoded by the ''KISS1'' gene in humans. Kisspeptins are ligands of the G-protein coupled receptor, GPR54. ''Kiss1'' was originally identified as a human me ...
(disputed)
See also
*
Neuropeptide VF precursor
Neuropeptide VF precursor, also known as pro-FMRFamide-related neuropeptide VF or RFamide-related peptide precursor, is a propeptide that in mammals is encoded by the ''NPVF'' (or ''RPFP'') gene. The ''NPVF'' gene, and thus the propeptide, are e ...
*
FMRFamide
FMRFamide (H-Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2) is a neuropeptide from a broad family of FMRFamide-related peptides (FaRPs) all sharing an -RFamide sequence at their C-terminus. First identified in Hard clam (''Mercenaria mercenaria''), it is thought to play a ...
References
Neuropeptides
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