Juhendajad:
Prof. Ülo Langel, TÜ tehnoloogiainstituut
Prof. Jaak Järv, TÜ keemia Instituut
Oponent:
Prof. Barbara Kofler
Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
Summary:
Galanin is a 29 amino acid long neuropeptide. Through interactions with its three G-protein coupled receptors, GalR1-GalR3, galanin is involved in several functions in the central nervous system, including the regulation of depression-like behavior and food consumption. As all the three receptor subtypes have somewhat different functional binding properties and signaling pathways it has been suggested that they have distinct roles in the regulation of various human diseases and pathological conditions. This makes GalR1-GalR3 unique pharmacological targets. However, due to the lack of subtype specific ligands in the galanin field the involvement of different galanin receptors in various diseases remains to be determined.
This thesis is therefore devoted to the development of novel GalR2 subtype specific ligands. Additionally, these novel compounds and the functions of GalR2 have been investigated in two different behavioral models, namely depression-like behavior and feeding regulation.