Biochemistry

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represent important health problem because of its main particular components: insulin resistance, obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Utilization of natural neuropeptides for treatment of particular compounents is limited due to their fast degradation and inability to penetrate blood brain barrier to exert their central effect after peripheral administration. In this project, we aim to characterize biological properties of stable analogs of anorexigenic neuropeptides modified by lipidization to prolong their halflife in blood and enable to cross blood brain barrier. Novel analogs will be tested for binding and biological activity in vitro and the most potent analogs for acute and chronic effect on food intake and metabolic parameters in mouse and rat models of metabolic syndrome. Lipidization of anorexigenic neuropeptides could serve as an effective way to exert their central effect after peripheral administration and to show their potential in treatment of metabolic syndrome.