Abstract

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide (NOP) receptor is a candidate target for novel therapeutics for a range of conditions, including obesity. This article reviews recent advances in understanding of N/OFQs involvement in the regulation of food intake and appraises current developments in the rational design of antagonists aimed at the NOP receptor.

Keywords: Nociceptin/orphanin FQ, N/OFQ, nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor, opioid receptor like-1 (ORL-1), opioid receptor-4 (OP4), kappa-type 3 opioid receptor (KOR-3), rat opioid receptor-C (ROR-C), obesity, food intake