NPAS3 Research Peptide
A research-only peptide derived from the NPAS3 (neuronal PAS domain protein 3) basic helix-loop-helix PAS transcription factor. NPAS3 has been linked to schizophrenia and cognitive phenotypes in human genetic studies, but the peptide itself has no clinical development. No human trials, no established dosing, and no substantiated therapeutic use.
A short peptide fragment corresponding to a sequence within the bHLH-PAS transcription factor NPAS3. NPAS3 knockout in mice produces schizophrenia-like behavioral abnormalities and reduced adult hippocampal neurogenesis, and NPAS3 loss-of-function has been reported in rare human schizophrenia and intellectual disability pedigrees. Peptide fragments of NPAS3 have been examined in a small research literature primarily for their DNA-binding or protein-protein interaction properties. No therapeutic development; research-only.
Mechanism of action
NPAS3 is a member of the bHLH-PAS transcription factor family that dimerizes with ARNT (HIF-1β) and binds E-box elements to regulate genes involved in neurogenesis, circadian biology, and xenobiotic response. NPAS3-deficient mice show reduced adult hippocampal neurogenesis, altered social and prepulse inhibition behaviors, and changes in FGF signaling. Short NPAS3-derived peptides have primarily been used as research tools for studying bHLH-PAS dimerization or as epitopes for antibody generation, not as functional therapeutic mimetics.
Primary uses
- Transcription-factor research (in vitro)
- Schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental genetics research (preclinical)
Typical dosing
⚠ No human dosing has ever been established. Any human use would be entirely experimental and unsupported.
Regulatory status
Not FDA-approved. No registered clinical trials. No sponsoring developer. Listed in some grey-market research-peptide catalogs as a nootropic candidate; any such characterization is not supported by clinical evidence.
Status as of this entry's last review, April 19, 2026. Approvals, compounding rules and sport rules change; the regulatory tracker is checked more often.
What we checked
The 'NPAS3 peptide' sold online takes its name from NPAS3, a brain transcription factor linked to schizophrenia and neurogenesis in mice. We found no published peptide by that name; this section records what can be checked.
Identity, computed
| Sequence | Not established |
No standard sequence exists: the dataset records that sequences vary across sources, so no formula or mass can be computed.
Regulatory status, read October 5, 2026
Drugs@FDA: 0 records for “NPAS3”. EMA medicines list: 0 records for “NPAS3”. Run for semaglutide, the same queries return 6 and 5 records (and the registry search 84 trials), so a zero here is an absence, not a broken search. Not named on the WADA 2026 and 2027 Prohibited Lists. As a substance with no current approval for human therapeutic use, it falls under section S0 (non-approved substances), which is prohibited at all times; the lists were read on September 27, 2026.
What the maker or sellers claim
Claim, from research-chemical sellers: An NPAS3 peptide boosts neurogenesis or mood. The published work concerns the NPAS3 gene and protein, not a peptide drug.
About NPAS3, the gene
A 2003 study, cited in References, found NPAS3 disrupted in a family with schizophrenia, and a 2005 mouse study found that losing NPAS3 impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Both are about the gene, not a peptide.
What we looked for and did not find
No published peptide, no human study, no registry record and no drug application.
| Source | Query | Results, October 5, 2026 | What it was |
|---|---|---|---|
| PubMed | NPAS3 peptide | 10 | |
| PubMed | NPAS3 neurogenesis | 16 | |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | NPAS3 | 0 | |
| Drugs@FDA (openFDA) | NPAS3 | 0 | |
| EMA medicines list | NPAS3 | 0 |
References
- [pubmed] Kamnasaran D, et al. "Disruption of the neuronal PAS3 gene in a family affected with schizophrenia." J Med Genet, 2003;40:325-332. PMID: 12746393.
- [pubmed] Pieper AA, et al. "The neuronal PAS domain protein 3 transcription factor controls FGF-mediated adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice." Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2005;102:14052-14057. PMID: 16172381.
Related peptides
Guides & tools
This entry is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Dosing information reflects published regulatory or research data and is not a recommendation. Many compounds described here are not approved for human use in the United States. Consult a licensed medical professional before considering any peptide therapy.