Beacon (BC ) is a newly discovered peptide isolated from the hypothalamus piaskówki ( Psammomys obesus) , which has been implicated in the regulation of energy balance. It is also known under the names of ubiquitin -like protein 5 ( UBL5 ) and homologous to ubiquitin ( Hub 1 ) . His presence is observed in almost all tissues examined . Beacon gene is highly conserved interspecies . Its expression in the hypothalamus, is proportional to glucose and insulin levels and body fat percentage and body mass in an animal species Psammomys obesus . Beacon intraventricular infusion of the peptide increases in the quantity of food , weight gain and an increase in the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY ) in the hypothalamus in a dose-dependent manner . BC and simultaneous infusion of NPY results in an increase in the quantity of food intake and body weight increase to a greater extent than the administration of these peptides individually. Passing this way beaconu not affect energy expenditure , physical activity or metabolism of energy substrates , while increasing the amount of food received by the animals . Body weight gain of animals treated with BC , is due to enlargement of adipose tissue mass . In studies on the effect of this peptide piaskówki postnatal development has shown that differences in the expression level of the gene , and glucose and insulin levels are significant in- 4 week before they reveal themselves overweight . The differences of body weight are shown by 8 week of birth. Beacon also has a strong capability to specifically bind to the protein of three subfamily kinases , called kinases cdc2/cdc28-like ( clks ) . Beacon is not a substrate for these enzymes. The mechanism of action and function of this peptide remain unexplained .