The molecule is a 13 amino acid peptide hormone which is found in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. It behaves as a neurotransmitter in the brain, as a hormone in the gut, and also as a neuromodulator. It is implicated in the pathophysiology of several CNS disorders (including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, drug abuse, pain, cancer, inflammation, eating disorders and central control of blood pressure) due to its association with a wide variety of neurotransmitter systems such as dopaminergic, sertonergic, glutamatergic, GABAergic, and cholinergic systems. It has a role as a human metabolite, a mitogen, a neurotransmitter and a vulnerary. It is a conjugate base of a neurotensin(1+).
(2S)-2-[[(2S,3S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-1-[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-1-[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-4-amino-2-[[(2S)-4-carboxy-2-[[(2S)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[[(2S)-4-methyl-2-[[(2S)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carbonyl]amino]pentanoyl]amino]propanoyl]amino]butanoyl]amino]-4-oxobutanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl]amino]-5-(diaminomethylideneamino)pentanoyl]amino]-5-(diaminomethylideneamino)pentanoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl]amino]-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoyl]amino]-3-methylpentanoyl]amino]-4-methylpentanoic acid