Neuropeptide F receptor (NPFR)

The Neuropeptide F receptor (NPFR) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that serves as the invertebrate ortholog of the vertebrate Neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor system. It is primarily expressed in the nervous system and midgut of various insects and mollusks, where it mediates the physiological effects of Neuropeptide F (NPF). NPFR plays a central role in regulating essential survival behaviors, most notably the transition between foraging and feeding, as well as modulating responses to social cues and environmental stress (Garczynski et al., 2002; Lingo et al., 2007). In the field of agricultural biotechnology, NPFR is a significant target for the development of novel, species-specific insecticides aimed at disrupting the feeding and reproductive cycles of major crop pests. While not a direct therapeutic target in human medicine, its functional conservation with the human NPY system makes it a critical model for understanding the evolutionary basis of appetite control and metabolic homeostasis (Nässel and Wegener, 2011). Current research focuses on the structural characterization of NPFR to design selective ligands that can manage pest populations without affecting vertebrate hosts or beneficial insects.

Other names

NPF receptorNPFR1Neuropeptide F receptor 1G protein-coupled receptor 9925Drosophila neuropeptide F receptor

The Neuropeptide F receptor typically couples to Gi/o proteins, leading to the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and a subsequent decrease in intracellular cAMP levels. This signaling cascade modulates neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release, thereby influencing complex behaviors such as foraging, food intake, and response to environmental stressors (Fadda et al., 2019; Wu et al., 2003).