Strong suppression of feeding by a peptide containing both the nuclear localization sequence of fibroblast growth factor-1 and a cell membrane-permeable sequence.

Earlier studies have shown that fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-1 in the brain regulates feeding behavior. In the present study, food intake in rats was strongly suppressed by an infusion into the lateral cerebroventricle of a synthetic peptide (26 amino acids) which contains both the N-terminal nuclear localization sequence (NLS) of FGF-1 and a recently identified membrane-permeable sequence. When the NLS motif in the peptide was destroyed by mutations of two lysine residues, the mutant peptide failed to affect eating. The results suggest that the NLS of FGF-1 plays an important role in FGF-1-induced feeding suppression and they introduce a novel compound for feeding regulation.