Spexin (SPX)

Spexin (SPX) is a highly conserved 14-amino-acid neuropeptide hormone belonging to the Spexin/Galanin/Kisspeptin gene family and encoded by the C12orf39 gene on chromosome 12 in humans[1][2][4][5]. SPX is synthesized as a 116-amino-acid precursor which is processed to yield the mature active peptide[1][2][5]. Widely expressed in human tissues such as adipose tissue, brain, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and others, spexin acts primarily as an endogenous ligand for Galanin receptor 2 (GALR2) and Galanin receptor 3 (GALR3)[1][3][4][5]. It regulates a variety of physiological processes including appetite suppression, fat and glucose metabolism, gastrointestinal motility, reproductive axis modulation (notably exerting inhibitory effects on luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and ovarian functions), and pain perception[1][2][3][4][5]. Pathophysiologically, altered spexin levels are associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, and PCOS[2][4][5]. There are no approved therapeutics targeting spexin itself, but it is under investigation as a potential biomarker or peptide therapeutic in metabolic and reproductive disorders[1][2][4][5]. **Note:** - Spexin itself is not a therapeutic target in the canonical sense (i.e., enzyme, receptor, transporter), but functions as an endogenous ligand and biomarker, which is important for research and possible diagnostic or therapeutic uses, but there are no drugs that directly target or modulate spexin itself at the time of this writing[1][2][4][5][6]. - Its canonical molecular targets, suitable for "target" classification, are the Galanin receptor 2 and Galanin receptor 3, both of which are GPCRs[1][3][5].

Other names

Spexin-1Spexin-2C12orf39MGC10946NPQNeuropeptide QNPQ 53-70SPX1spexinspexin hormone

Endogenous ligand for Galanin receptor 2 (GALR2) and Galanin receptor 3 (GALR3), modulating their activity[1][3][5].