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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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QRFP
pyroglutamylated RFamide peptide
Chromosome 9 · 9q34.12
NCBI Gene: 347148Ensembl: ENSG00000188710.3HGNC: HGNC:29982UniProt: P83859
22PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
neuropeptide hormone activityneuropeptide signaling pathwaypositive regulation of blood pressureorexigenic neuropeptide QRFP receptor bindingArthropathyhypertrophic cardiomyopathyprostate cancermorbid obesity
✦AI Summary

QRFP (pyroglutamylated RFamide peptide) is a neuropeptide that functions as a key regulator of energy homeostasis and feeding behavior through its cognate receptor GPR103. QRFP stimulates food intake, particularly high-fat foods, when administered centrally in rodents 12. The peptide is expressed primarily in hypothalamic nuclei involved in feeding control, with expression levels increased in obese animals and upregulated by high-fat diet consumption 31. Beyond feeding regulation, QRFP demonstrates broader metabolic functions including glucose homeostasis regulation, acting as an incretin that reduces glucose-induced hyperglycemia and increases insulin sensitivity 3. The peptide also regulates adrenal steroidogenesis, inducing aldosterone and cortisol secretion through PKC and T-type calcium channel-mediated pathways in human adrenocortical cells 4. QRFP-expressing neurons in the preoptic hypothalamus can induce hibernation-like hypothermic states when stimulated, suggesting roles in thermoregulation and cardiovascular function 5. The neuropeptide system shows sexual dimorphism, with expression varying across the estrous cycle in females 2. QRFP represents a multifunctional neuropeptide system central to energy balance, metabolic regulation, and stress-related physiological responses 67.

Sources cited
1
QRFP stimulates high-fat food intake and is upregulated by high-fat diet consumption
PMID: 18765262
2
QRFP increases high-fat food intake in female rats and shows estrous cycle-dependent expression
PMID: 21473894
3
QRFP regulates energy homeostasis, glucose metabolism, and acts as an incretin
PMID: 27965532
4
QRFP induces adrenal steroidogenesis through PKC and calcium channel pathways
PMID: 23964068
5
QRFP-expressing neurons can induce hibernation-like states and regulate thermoregulation
PMID: 36452866
6
QRFP is involved in stress-related physiological responses
PMID: 38994950
7
QRFP system regulates multiple functions including energy homeostasis and blood pressure
PMID: 24532655
Disease Associationsⓘ20
ArthropathyOpen Targets
0.31Weak
hypertrophic cardiomyopathyOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
prostate cancerOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
morbid obesityOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
narcolepsyOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
insomniaOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
Abnormality of the skeletal systemOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
benign prostatic hyperplasiaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
preeclampsiaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
COVID-19Open Targets
0.02Suggestive
depressive disorderOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
AnxietyOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
osteoporosisOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
pneumoniaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
CataplexyOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
colorectal cancerOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
melanomaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
metabolic syndromeOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
NPFFR2Protein interaction78%PRLHProtein interaction78%KISS1Protein interaction76%TAC3Protein interaction76%NPFFR1Protein interaction76%HCRTProtein interaction76%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Ovary
100%
Bone Marrow
87%
Lung
68%
Heart
38%
Liver
28%
Brain
4%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
QRFPNPFFR2PRLHKISS1TAC3NPFFR1HCRT
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB8ZH8 · 3.19 Å · EM
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.47LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.01Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.79 [0.45–1.47]
RankingsWhere QRFP stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #13,721of 20,598
    Most Researched22
  • #14,997of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.47
Genes detectedQRFP
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
QRFP induces aldosterone production via PKC and T-type calcium channel-mediated pathways in human adrenocortical cells: evidence for a novel role of GPR103.
PMID: 23964068
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab · 2013
1.00
2
The Neuropeptide 26RFa (QRFP) and Its Role in the Regulation of Energy Homeostasis: A Mini-Review.
PMID: 27965532
Front Neurosci · 2016
0.90
3
Optogenetic induction of hibernation-like state with modified human Opsin4 in mice.
PMID: 36452866
Cell Rep Methods · 2022
0.80
4
Molecular evolution of GPCRs: 26Rfa/GPR103.
PMID: 24532655
J Mol Endocrinol · 2014
0.70
5
Brain RFamide Neuropeptides in Stress-Related Psychopathologies.
PMID: 38994950
Cells · 2024
0.60