Abstract: Novel compounds of Formula (I) which modulate MCH activity are disclosed, in which A is a linker; Ar1 is an aryl or heteroaryl group; R1 is a lower alkoxy group; R2 is an R1 group or hydrogen, an OH or an NH2 group, Q together with the carbonyl forms an amide group, which is further substituted with an amine group; R5 is selected from hydrogen, halogen atoms, alkoxy groups, hydroxy, alkylamino groups, dialkylamino groups, hydroxylalkyl groups, carboxamido groups, acylamido groups, acyl groups, —CHO, nitrile, alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl groups, —SCH3, partially or fully fluorinated alkyl, alkoxy or thioalkoxy groups such as —CH2CF3, —CF2CF3, —CF3, —OCF3, —SCF3; —SO2NH2, —SO2NHAlk, —SO2NAlk2, —SO2Alk; X is H, F, Cl, Br, I, —SCH3, —CF3, —OCF3, —SCF3, OCH3, or lower alkyl or alkenyl group; R8 is halogen atoms, alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, aryl groups, heteroaryl groups, heterocyclyl groups, alkylcycloalkyl groups, alkylaryl groups, alkylheterocyclyl groups, alkylheteroaryl groups, arylalkoxy

Abstract: Compounds of the invention act as inverse agonist ghrelin receptors. Some of the compounds of the invention may have both inverse agonistic and antagonistic properties as they both decrease or eliminate the constitutive activity of he ghrelin receptor and block the effect of ghrelin. Other preferred compounds of the invention have inverse agonistic properties but have little or no antagonistic activity. The compounds are suitable for medical and/or cosmetic use in connection with modulation of feeding behaviors, body composition and reduction of body mass. The invention also relates to methods for identifying inverse agonists for the ghrelin receptor and for monitoring the further development of such compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides q-type G proteins, and nucleic acids encoding q-type G proteins, with one or more mutations in the linker I and/or linker II region, which render the proteins responsive to one or more non-q type G protein coupled receptors. The invention further relates to methods of identifying modulators of a G-protein coupled receptor.