Neuropeptides B/W Receptor 2 (NPBWR2)

Neuropeptides B/W receptor 2 is an integral membrane protein and G protein-coupled receptor. The encoded protein is similar in sequence to another G protein-coupled receptor (GPR7), and it is structurally similar to opioid and somatostatin receptors. This protein binds neuropeptides B and W. This gene is intronless and is expressed primarily in the frontal cortex of the brain.The intronless coding sequences of GPR7 and GPR8 had 70% identity with each other and each shared significant similarity with the sequences encoding transmembrane regions of the opioid and somatostatin receptors. while GPR8 was located mainly in the frontal cortex. In situ hybridization revealed expression of GPR7 in the human pituitary. Initial pharmacologic studies indicated binding to several opioid drugs, but not to the opioid receptor subtype-specific mu, delta, or kappa agonists.