A pharmacological study of NLP-12 neuropeptide signaling in free-living and parasitic nematodes

► The identification of a NLP-12-like peptide precursor gene in Strongyloides ratti. ► RPLQFamide is the essential pharmacophore in Caenorhabditis elegans NLP-12b. ► This motif is perfectly conserved between free-living and parasitic nematodes. ► Arg-, Leu- and Phe-residues are critical for high-affinity receptor binding.