Natriuretic Peptide Receptor Agonists: Small Molecules and Peptides

Natriuretic peptide (NP) receptors are single transmembrane catalytic receptors with intracellular guanylyl cyclase activity. There are three isoforms of NP receptors; NPR1, NPR2 and NPR3, which have conserved catalytic and regulatory domains and divergent ligand binding domains.

Natriuretic peptide receptors bind α-atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide and type C-natriuretic peptide with varying affinity and are found in the brain, vasculature and kidney. The main physiological role of NP receptors is the homeostasis of body fluid volume.