Evolution and phylogeny of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of peptides: expansion and specialization in the vertebrates

Long-term neuropeptide modulation of female sexual drive via the TRP channel in Drosophila melanogaster

Connectomics research has made it more feasible to explore how neural circuits can generate multiple outputs. Female sexual drive provides a good model for understanding reversible, long-term functional changes in motivational circuits. After emerging, female flies avoid male courtship, but they become sexually receptive over 2 d. Mating causes females to reject further mating for several days. Here, we report that pC1 neurons, which process male courtship and regulate copulation behavior, exhibit increased CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) activity during sexual maturation and decreased CREB activity after mating. This increased CREB activity requires the neuropeptide Dh44 (Diuretic hormone 44) and its receptors. A subset of the pC1 neurons secretes Dh44, which stimulates CREB activity and increases expression of the TRP channel Pyrexia (Pyx) in more pC1 neurons. This, in turn, increases pC1 excitability and sexual drive. Mating suppresses pyx expression and pC1 excitability. Dh44 is orthologous to the conserved corticotrophin-releasing hormone family, suggesting similar roles in other species.

Temperature- and genotype-dependent stress response and activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis during temperature-induced sex reversal in pejerrey Odontesthes bonariensis, a species with genotypic and environmental sex determination

In the pejerrey Odontesthes bonariensis (Atheriniformes, Atherinopsidae), exposure to high and low temperatures during the critical period of sex determination (CPSD) induce testicular and ovarian differentiation, respectively, regardless of the presence or not of the sex determining gene amhy, which is crucial for testis formation only at intermediate, sexually neutral temperatures. In this study we explored the existence of genotype-specific signaling of Crh (Corticotropin Releasing Hormone) family genes and their associated carrier protein, receptors, and other stress-related genes in response to temperature during the CPSD and the potential involvement of the central nervous system via the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis in the sex determination of this species. The Crh family genes crhb, uts1, ucn3, the receptor crhr1 and the stress-related genes gr1, gr2, nr3c2 were transiently upregulated in the heads of pejerrey larvae during the CPSD by high temperature alone or in combination with other factors. Only crhr2 transcript abundance was not influenced by temperature but independently by time and genotype. In most cases, mRNA abundance was higher in the XX heads compared to that of XY individuals. The mRNAs of some of these genes were localized in the hypothalamus of pejerrey larvae during the CPSD. XX larvae also showed higher whole-body cortisol titers than the XY, downregulation of cyp19a1a and upregulation of the testis-related genes amhy/amha in trunks (gonads) and were 100% masculinized at the high temperature. In contrast, at the low temperature, crhbp and avt were upregulated in the heads, particularly the former in XY larvae. cyp19a1a and amhy/amha were up- and downregulated, respectively, in the gonads, and fish were 100% feminized. Signaling via the HPI axis was observed simultaneously with the first molecular signs of ongoing sex determination/differentiation in the gonads. Overall, the results strongly suggest a temperature-dependent, genotype-specific regulatory action of the brain involving the Crh family of stress-related genes on the process of environmental sex determination of pejerrey.

The exploration of neuroinflammatory mechanism by which CRHR2 deficiency induced anxiety disorder

Inflammation stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and triggers glial neuroinflammatory phenotypes, which reduces monoamine neurotransmitters by activating indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase enzyme. These changes can induce psychiatric diseases, including anxiety. Corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) in the HPA axis is involved in the etiology of anxiety. Omega(n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can attenuate anxiety through anti-inflammation and HPA axis modulation. However, the underlying molecular mechanism by CRHR2 modulates anxiety and its correlation with neuroinflammation remain unclear. Here, we first constructed a crhr2 zebrafish mutant line, and evaluated anxiety-like behaviors, gene expression associated with the HPA axis, neuroinflammatory response, neurotransmitters, and PUFAs profile in crhr2+/+ and crhr2-/- zebrafish. The crhr2 deficiency decreased cortisol levels and up-regulated crhr1 and down-regulated crhb, crhbp, ucn3l and proopiomelanocortin a (pomc a) in zebrafish. Interestingly, a significant increase in the neuroinflammatory markers, translocator protein (TSPO) and the activation of microglia M1 phenotype (CD11b) were found in crhr2-/- zebrafish. As a consequence, the expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, pro-inflammatory cytokines vascular endothelial growth factor, and astrocyte A1 phenotype c3 were up-regulated. While microglia anti-inflammatory phenotype (CD206), central anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-4, arginase-1, and transforming growth factor-β were downregulated. In parallel, crhr2-deficient zebrafish showed an upregulation of vdac1 protein, a TSPO ligand, and its downstream caspase-3. Furthermore, 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio was decreased and n-3 PUFAs deficiency was identified in crhr2-/- zebrafish. In conclusion, anxiety-like behavior displayed by crhr2-deficient zebrafish may be caused by the HPA axis dysfunction and enhanced neuroinflammation, which resulted in n-3 PUFAs and monoamine neurotransmitter reductions.

Mapping of corticotropin-releasing factor, receptors, and binding protein mRNA in the chicken telencephalon throughout development

Understanding the neural mechanisms that regulate the stress response is critical to know how animals adapt to a changing world and is one of the key factors to be considered for improving animal welfare. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is crucial for regulating physiological and endocrine responses, triggering the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) during stress. In mammals, several telencephalic areas, such as the amygdala and the hippocampus, regulate the autonomic system and the HPA responses. These centers include subpopulations of CRF containing neurons that, by way of CRF receptors, play modulatory roles in the emotional and cognitive aspects of stress. CRF binding protein also plays a role, buffering extracellular CRF and regulating its availability. CRF role in activation of the HPA is evolutionary conserved in vertebrates, highlighting the relevance of this system to help animals cope with adversity. However, knowledge on CRF systems in the avian telencephalon is very limited, and no information exists on detailed expression of CRF receptors and binding protein. Knowing that the stress response changes with age, with important variations during the first week posthatching, the aim of this study was to analyze mRNA expression of CRF, CRF receptors 1 and 2, and CRF binding protein in chicken telencephalon throughout embryonic and early posthatching development, using in situ hybridization. Our results demonstrate an early expression of CRF and its receptors in pallial areas regulating sensory processing, sensorimotor integration and cognition, and a late expression in subpallial areas regulating the stress response. However, CRF buffering system develops earlier in the subpallium than in the pallium. These results help to understand the mechanisms underlying the negative effects of noise and light during prehatching stages in chicken, and suggest that stress regulation becomes more sophisticated with age.

[The caudal neurosecretory system, the other "neurohypophysial" system in fish]

The caudal neurosecretory system (CNSS) is a neuroendocrine complex whose existence is specific to fishes. Structurally, it has many similarities with the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal complex of other vertebrates. However, it differs regarding its position at the caudal end of the spinal cord and the nature of the hormones it secretes, the most important being urotensins. The CNSS was first described more than 60 years ago, but its embryological origin is totally unknown and its role is still poorly understood. Paradoxically, it is almost no longer studied today. Recent developments in imaging and genome editing could make it possible to resume investigations on CNSS in order to solve the mysteries that still surround it.

Molecular Identification and Cellular Localization of a Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone-Type Neuropeptide in an Echinoderm

BACKGROUND

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mediates physiological responses to stressors in mammals by triggering pituitary secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone, which stimulates adrenal release of cortisol. CRH belongs to a family of related neuropeptides that include sauvagine, urotensin-I, and urocortins in vertebrates and the diuretic hormone DH44 in insects, indicating that the evolutionary origin of this neuropeptide family can be traced to the common ancestor of the Bilateria. However, little is known about CRH-type neuropeptides in deuterostome invertebrates.

METHODS

Here, we used mass spectrometry, mRNA in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry to investigate the structure and expression of a CRH-type neuropeptide (ArCRH) in the starfish Asterias rubens (phylum Echinodermata).

RESULTS

ArCRH is a 40-residue peptide with N-terminal pyroglutamylation and C-terminal amidation, and it has a widespread pattern of expression in A. rubens. In the central nervous system comprising the circumoral nerve ring and 5 radial nerve cords, ArCRH-expressing cells and fibres were revealed in both the ectoneural region and the hyponeural region, which contains the cell bodies of motoneurons. Accordingly, ArCRH immunoreactivity was detected in innervation of the ampulla and podium of locomotory organs (tube feet), and ArCRH is the first neuropeptide to be identified as a marker for nerve fibres located in the muscle layer of these organs. ArCRH immunoreactivity was also revealed in protractile organs that mediate gas exchange (papulae), the apical muscle, and the digestive system.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide the first insights into CRH-type neuropeptide expression and function in the unique context of the pentaradially symmetrical body plan of an echinoderm.

Organization of the corticotropin-releasing hormone and corticotropin-releasing hormone-binding protein systems in the central nervous system of the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus

The expression of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (PmCRH) and the CRH-binding protein (PmCRHBP) mRNAs was studied by in situ hybridization in the brain of prolarvae, larvae, and adults of the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus. We also generated an antibody against the PmCRH mature peptide to study the distribution of PmCRH-immunoreactive cells and fibers. PmCRH immunohistochemistry was combined with antityrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry, PmCRHBP in situ hybridization, or neurobiotin transport from the spinal cord. The most numerous PmCRH-expressing cells were observed in the magnocellular preoptic nucleus-paraventricular nucleus and in the superior and medial rhombencephalic reticular formation. PmCRH expression was more extended in adults than in larvae, and some cell populations were mainly (olfactory bulb) or only (striatum, ventral hypothalamus, prethalamus) observed in adults. The preopto-paraventricular fibers form conspicuous tracts coursing toward the neurohypophysis, but many immunoreactive fibers were also observed coursing in many other brain regions. Brain descending fibers in the spinal cord mainly come from cells located in the isthmus and in the medial rhombencephalic reticular nucleus. The distribution of PmCRHBP-expressing neurons was different from that of PmCRH cells, with cells mainly present in the septum, striatum, preoptic region, tuberal hypothalamus, pretectum, pineal complex, isthmus, reticular formation, and spinal cord. Again, expression in adults was more extended than in larvae. PmCRH- and PmCRHBP-expressing cells are different, excluding colocalization of these substances in the same neuron. Present findings reveal a complex CRH/CRHBP system in the brain of the oldest extant vertebrate group, the agnathans, which shows similarities but important divergences with that of mammals.

New Insights Into the Evolution of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Family With a Special Focus on Teleosts

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) was discovered for its role as a brain neurohormone controlling the corticotropic axis in vertebrates. An additional crh gene, crh2, paralog of crh (crh1), and likely resulting from the second round (2R) of vertebrate whole genome duplication (WGD), was identified in a holocephalan chondrichthyan, in basal mammals, various sauropsids and a non-teleost actinopterygian holostean. It was suggested that crh2 has been recurrently lost in some vertebrate groups including teleosts. We further investigated the fate of crh1 and crh2 in vertebrates with a special focus on teleosts. Phylogenetic and synteny analyses showed the presence of duplicated crh1 paralogs, crh1a and crh1b, in most teleosts, resulting from the teleost-specific WGD (3R). Crh1b is conserved in all teleosts studied, while crh1a has been lost independently in some species. Additional crh1 paralogs are present in carps and salmonids, resulting from specific WGD in these lineages. We identified crh2 gene in additional vertebrate groups such as chondrichthyan elasmobranchs, sarcopterygians including dipnoans and amphibians, and basal actinoperygians, Polypteridae and Chondrostei. We also revealed the presence of crh2 in teleosts, including elopomorphs, osteoglossomorphs, clupeiforms, and ostariophysians, while it would have been lost in Euteleostei along with some other groups. To get some insights on the functional evolution of the crh paralogs, we compared their primary and 3D structure, and by qPCR their tissue distribution, in two representative species, the European eel, which possesses three crh paralogs (crh1a, crh1b, crh2), and the Atlantic salmon, which possesses four crh paralogs of the crh1-type. All peptides conserved the structural characteristics of human CRH. Eel crh1b and both salmon crh1b genes were mainly expressed in the brain, supporting the major role of crh1b paralogs in controlling the corticotropic axis in teleosts. In contrast, crh1a paralogs were mainly expressed in peripheral tissues such as muscle and heart, in eel and salmon, reflecting a striking subfunctionalization between crh1a and b paralogs. Eel crh2 was weakly expressed in the brain and peripheral tissues. These results revisit the repertoire of crh in teleosts and highlight functional divergences that may have contributed to the differential conservation of various crh paralogs in teleosts.

Expression of Urocortin 3 mRNA in the Central Nervous System of the Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus

In this study, we analyzed the organization of urocortin 3 (Ucn3)-expressing neuronal populations in the brain of the adult sea lamprey by means of in situ hybridization. We also studied the brain of larval sea lampreys to establish whether this prosocial neuropeptide is expressed differentially in two widely different phases of the sea lamprey life cycle. In adult sea lampreys, Ucn3 transcript expression was observed in neurons of the striatum, prethalamus, nucleus of the medial longitudinal fascicle, torus semicircularis, isthmic reticular formation, interpeduncular nucleus, posterior rhombencephalic reticular formation and nucleus of the solitary tract. Interestingly, in larval sea lampreys, only three regions showed Ucn3 expression, namely the prethalamus, the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fascicle and the posterior rhombencephalic reticular formation. A comparison with distributions of Ucn3 in other vertebrates revealed poor conservation of Ucn3 expression during vertebrate evolution. The large qualitative differences in Ucn3 expression observed between larval and adult phases suggest that the maturation of neuroregulatory circuits in the striatum, torus semicircularis and hindbrain chemosensory systems is closely related to profound life-style changes occurring after the transformation from larval to adult life.

Ancient fishes and the functional evolution of the corticosteroid stress response in vertebrates

The neuroendocrine mechanism underlying stress responses in vertebrates is hypothesized to be highly conserved and evolutionarily ancient. Indeed, elements of this mechanism, from the brain to steroidogenic tissue, are present in all vertebrate groups; yet, evidence of the function and even identity of some elements of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal/interrenal (HPA/I) axis is equivocal among the most basal vertebrates. The purpose of this review is to discuss the functional evolution of the HPA/I axis in vertebrates with a focus on our understanding of this neuroendocrine mechanism in the most ancient vertebrates: the agnathan (i.e., hagfish and lamprey) and chondrichthyan fishes (i.e., sharks, rays, and chimeras). A review of the current literature presents evidence of a conserved HPA/I axis in jawed vertebrates (i.e., gnathostomes); yet, available data in jawless (i.e., agnathan) and chondrichthyan fishes are limited. Neuroendocrine regulation of corticosteroidogenesis in agnathans and chondrichthyans appears to function through similar pathways as in bony fishes and tetrapods; however, key elements have yet to be identified and the involvement of melanotropins and gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the stress axis in these ancient fishes warrants further investigation. Further, the identities of physiological glucocorticoids are uncertain in hagfishes, chondrichthyans, and even coelacanths. Resolving these and other knowledge gaps in the stress response of ancient fishes will be significant for advancing knowledge of the evolutionary origins of the vertebrate stress response.

Evolution of thyrotropin-releasing factor extracellular communication units

Thyroid hormones (THs) are ancient signaling molecules that contribute to the regulation of metabolism, energy homeostasis and growth. In vertebrates, the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis links the corresponding organs through hormonal signals, including thyrotropin releasing factor (TRF), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) that ultimately activates the synthesis and secretion of THs from the thyroid gland. Although this axis is conserved among most vertebrates, the identity of the hypothalamic TRF that positively regulates TSH synthesis and secretion varies. We review the evolution of the hypothalamic factors that induce TSH secretion, including thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), urotensin-1-3, and sauvagine, and non-mammalian glucagon-like peptide in metazoans. Each of these peptides is part of an extracellular communication unit likely composed of at least 3 elements: the peptide, G-protein coupled receptor and bioavailability regulator, set up on the central neuroendocrine articulation. The bioavailability regulators include a TRH-specific ecto-peptidase, pyroglutamyl peptidase II, and a CRH-binding protein, that together with peptide secretion/transport rate and transduction coupling and efficiency at receptor level shape TRF signal intensity and duration. These vertebrate TRF communication units were coopted from bilaterian ancestors. The bona fide elements appeared early in chordates, and are either used alternatively, in parallel, or sequentially, in different vertebrate classes to control centrally the activity of the HPT axis. Available data also suggest coincidence between apparition of ligand and bioavailability regulator.

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) Gene Family Duplications in Lampreys Correlate With Two Early Vertebrate Genome Doublings

The ancestor of gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) is generally considered to have undergone two rounds of whole genome duplication (WGD). The timing of these WGD events relative to the divergence of the closest relatives of the gnathostomes, the cyclostomes, has remained contentious. Lampreys and hagfishes are extant cyclostomes whose gene families can shed light on the relationship between the WGDs and the cyclostome-gnathostome divergence. Previously, we have characterized in detail the evolution of the gnathostome corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family and found that its five members arose from two ancestral genes that existed before the WGDs. The two WGDs resulted, after secondary losses, in one triplet consisting of CRH1, CRH2, and UCN1, and one pair consisting of UCN2 and UCN3. All five genes exist in representatives for cartilaginous fishes, ray-finned fishes, and lobe-finned fishes. Differential losses have occurred in some lineages. We present here analyses of CRH-family members in lamprey and hagfish by comparing sequences and gene synteny with gnathostomes. We found five CRH-family genes in each of two lamprey species (Petromyzon marinus and Lethenteron camtschaticum) and two genes in a hagfish (Eptatretus burgeri). Synteny analyses show that all five lamprey CRH-family genes have similar chromosomal neighbors as the gnathostome genes. The most parsimonious explanation is that the lamprey CRH-family genes are orthologs of the five gnathostome genes and thus arose in the same chromosome duplications. This suggests that lampreys and gnathostomes share the same two WGD events and that these took place before the lamprey-gnathostome divergence.

Changes in corticotropin releasing factor system transcript levels in relation to feeding condition in Acipenser dabryanus

CRF system, structural conservation, has an association with feeding regulation in mammals. However, mammals and fish have different physiological mechanisms, the potential role of CRF system for feeding regulation in teleost fish are most unknown. To better explore possible feeding mechanisms of CRF system in Acipenser dabryanus, the gene expression patterns of CRF system have been investigated after different energy status. CRF and two receptors have been studied in Acipenser dabryanus in previous study, thus, four components of CRF system (UI, UCN2, UCN3 and CRF-BP) have been studied in this study. Results showed post-prandial increased UCNs mRNA expressions, and 10 days fasting decreased UCNs mRNA expressions, and the mRNA abundance of CRF-BP has no significant differences. Above, this study confirmed the CRF system has potential role for feeding regulation in Acipenser dabryanus.

Corticotropin-Releasing Factor: An Ancient Peptide Family Related to the Secretin Peptide Superfamily

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is the hypothalamic releasing peptide that regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal/inter-renal (HPA/I) axis in vertebrates. Over the last 25 years, there has been considerable discussion on its paralogs genes, urotensin-I/urocortin-1, and urocortins-2 and-3 and their subsequent role in the vertebrate stress response. Phylogenetically, the CRF family of peptides also belong to the diverse assemblage of Secretin- and Calcitonin-based peptides as evidenced by comparative-based studies of both their ligand and G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) structures. Despite this, the common origin of this large assemblage of peptides has not been ascertained. An unusual peptide, teneurin-C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP), reported in 2004, comprises the distal extracellular tip of the teneurin transmembrane proteins. Further studies indicated that this teneurin region binds to the latrophilin family of GPCRs. Initially thought to be a member of the Secretin GPCR family, evidence indicates that the latrophilins are a member of the Adhesion family of GPCRs and are related to the common ancestor of both Adhesion and Secretin GPCR families. In this study, we posit that TCAP may be a distantly related ancestor of the CRF-Calcitonin-Secretin peptide family and evolved near the base of metazoan phylogeny.

Synthetic Peptides as Therapeutic Agents: Lessons Learned From Evolutionary Ancient Peptides and Their Transit Across Blood-Brain Barriers

Peptides play a major role in the transmission of information to and from the central nervous system. However, because of their structural complexity, the development of pharmacological peptide-based therapeutics has been challenged by the lack of understanding of endogenous peptide evolution. The teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAP) possess many of the required attributes of a practical peptide therapeutic. TCAPs, associated with the teneurin transmembrane proteins that bind to the latrophilins, members of the Adhesion family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Together, this ligand-receptor unit plays an integral role in synaptogenesis, neurological development, and maintenance, and is present in most metazoans. TCAP has structural similarity to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and related peptides, such as calcitonin and the secretin-based peptides and inhibits the (CRF)-associated stress response. Latrophilins are structurally related to the secretin family of GPCRs. TCAP is a soluble peptide that crosses the blood-brain barrier and regulates glucose transport into the brain. We posit that TCAP represents a phylogenetically older peptide system that evolved before the origin of the CRF-calcitonin-secretin clade of peptides and plays a fundamental role in the regulation of cell-to-cell energy homeostasis. Moreover, it may act as a phylogenetically older peptide system that evolved as a natural antagonist to the CRF-mediated stress response. Thus, TCAP's actions on the CNS may provide new insights into the development of peptide therapeutics for the treatment of CNS disorders.

Molecular evolution of CRH and CRHR subfamily before the evolutionary origin of vertebrate

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is well-cited for its important role in governing the stress responses via neuroendocrine system in vertebrates. After the identification of homologs of CRH receptor (CRHR) in both deuterostome and arthropod lineages, it was suggested that the ancestral homolog of CRH-CRHR molecular system is present in the bilaterian. However, homolog sequences from arthropods differ considerably from vertebrate CRH-like peptide sequences. Due to the significant difference between the biological system, as well as the gene regulatory network, of protostome and that of vertebrate, physiological studies on the protostomes may not provide important insight into the evolutionary history of vertebrate CRH system, while tunicate and amphioxus, two close relatives to vertebrate, which have diverged before two rounds of whole genome duplication (2WGDs) do. Given the identification of amphioxus CRH-like peptide by our group, this review aims to reexamine the current hypotheses on the evolution of CRH subfamily. It is generally accepted that paralogs of CRH and CRHR have been produced through 2WGDs, which occurred during the early vertebrate evolution. The identification of a single crh-like gene in amphioxi and tunicates by in silico search and the presence of two paralogons with a total of 5 crh-like genes in gnathostomes has shown that an additional duplication event might have happened to the ancestral crh-like gene before 2WGDs. On the other hand, the evolution of crhr gene subfamily appears to be mainly influenced by 2WGDs and only two receptor genes have been retained in the genomes of jawed vertebrates.

Activity of the Carboxy-Terminal Peptide Region of the Teneurins and Its Role in Neuronal Function and Behavior in Mammals

Teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAPs) are an evolutionarily ancient family of 40- to 41-residue bioactive peptides located on the extracellular end of each of the four teneurin transmembrane proteins. TCAP-1 may exist as a tethered peptide at the teneurin-1 carboxy end or as an independent peptide that is either released via post-transcriptional cleavage from its teneurin-1 pro-protein or independently expressed as its own mRNA. In neurons, soluble TCAP-1 acts as a paracrine factor to regulate cellular activity and neuroplastic interactions. In vitro studies indicate that, by itself, synthetic TCAP-1 promotes neuron growth and protects cells from chemical insult. In vivo, TCAP-1 increases hippocampal neuron spine density, reduces stress-induced behavior and ablates cocaine-seeking behaviors. Together, these studies suggest that the physiological effects of TCAP-1 are a result of an inhibition of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) activity leading to increased energy production. This hypothesis is supported by in vivo functional positron emissions tomography studies, which demonstrate that TCAP-1 significantly increases glucose uptake in rat brain. Complimentary in vitro studies show that enhanced glucose uptake is the result of TCAP-1-induced insertion of the glucose transporter into the neuronal plasma membrane, leading to increased glucose uptake and ATP production. Interestingly, TCAP-1-mediated glucose uptake occurs through a novel insulin-independent pathway. This review will focus on examining the role of TCAP on neuronal energy metabolism in the central nervous system.

Structural Basis for Teneurin Function in Circuit-Wiring: A Toxin Motif at the Synapse

Teneurins (TENs) are cell-surface adhesion proteins with critical roles in tissue development and axon guidance. Here, we report the 3.1-Å cryoelectron microscopy structure of the human TEN2 extracellular region (ECR), revealing a striking similarity to bacterial Tc-toxins. The ECR includes a large β barrel that partially encapsulates a C-terminal domain, which emerges to the solvent through an opening in the mid-barrel region. An immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domain seals the bottom of the barrel while a β propeller is attached in a perpendicular orientation. We further show that an alternatively spliced region within the β propeller acts as a switch to regulate trans-cellular adhesion of TEN2 to latrophilin (LPHN), a transmembrane receptor known to mediate critical functions in the central nervous system. One splice variant activates trans-cellular signaling in a LPHN-dependent manner, whereas the other induces inhibitory postsynaptic differentiation. These results highlight the unusual structural organization of TENs giving rise to their multifarious functions.

Identification of a Novel Functional Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH2) in Chickens and Its Roles in Stimulating Pituitary TSHβ Expression and ACTH Secretion

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), together with its structurally and functionally related neuropeptides, constitute the CRH family and play critical roles in multiple physiological processes. Recently, a novel member of this family, namely CRH2, was identified in vertebrates, however, its functionality and physiological roles remain an open question. In this study, using chicken (c-) as the animal model, we characterized the expression and functionality of CRH2 and investigated its roles in anterior pituitary. Our results showed that (1) cCRH2 cDNA is predicted to encode a 40-aa mature peptide, which shares a higher amino acid sequence identity to cCRH (63%) than to other CRH family peptides (23-38%); (2) Using pGL3-CRE-luciferase reporter system, we demonstrated that cCRH2 is ~15 fold more potent in activating cCRH receptor 2 (CRHR2) than cCRHR1 when expressed in CHO cells, indicating that cCRH2 is bioactive and its action is mainly mediated by CRHR2; (3) Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that cCRH2 is widely expressed in chicken tissues including the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary, and its transcription is likely controlled by promoters near exon 1, which display strong promoter activity in cultured DF-1 and HEK293 cells; (4) In cultured chick pituitary cells, cCRH2 potently stimulates TSHβ expression and shows a lower potency in inducing ACTH secretion, indicating that pituitary/hypothalamic CRH2 can regulate pituitary functions. Collectively, our data provides the first piece of evidence to suggest that CRH2 play roles similar, but non-identical, to those of CRH, such as its differential actions on pituitary, and this helps to elucidate the roles of CRH2 in vertebrates.

Teneurin C-Terminal Associated Peptide (TCAP)-1 and Latrophilin Interaction in HEK293 Cells: Evidence for Modulation of Intercellular Adhesion

The teneurins are a family of four transmembrane proteins essential to intercellular adhesion processes, and are required for the development and maintenance of tissues. The Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) subclass latrophilins (ADGRL), or simply the latrophilins (LPHN), are putative receptors of the teneurins and act, in part, to mediate intercellular adhesion via binding with the teneurin extracellular region. At the distal tip of the extracellular region of each teneurin lies a peptide sequence termed the teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP). TCAP-1, associated with teneurin-1, is itself bioactive, suggesting that TCAP is a critical functional region of teneurin. However, the role of TCAP-1 has not been established with respect to its ability to interact with LPHN to induce downstream effects. To establish that TCAP-1 binds to LPHN1, a FLAG-tagged hormone binding domain (HBD) of LPHN1 and a GFP-tagged TCAP-1 peptide were co-expressed in HEK293 cells. Both immunoreactive epitopes were co-localized as a single band after immunoprecipitation, indicating an association between the two proteins. Moreover, fluorescent co-labeling occurred at the plasma membrane of LPHN1 over-expressing cells when treated with a FITC-tagged TCAP-1 variant. Expression of LPHN1 and treatment with TCAP-1 modulated the actin-based cytoskeleton in these cells in a manner consistent with previously reported actions of TCAP-1 and affected the overall morphology and aggregation of the cells. This study indicates that TCAP-1 may associate directly with LPHN1 and could play a role in the modulation of cytoskeletal organization and intercellular adhesion and aggregation via this interaction.

The central nervous system acts as a transducer of stress-induced masculinization through corticotropin-releasing hormone B

Exposure to environmental stressors, like high temperature (HT), during early development of fish induces sex reversal of genotypic females. Nevertheless, the involvement of the brain in this process is not well clarified. In the present work, we investigated the mRNA levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone b (crhb) and its receptors (crhr1 and crhr2), and found out that they were up-regulated at HT during the critical period of gonadal sex determination in medaka. In order to clarify their roles in sex reversal, biallelic mutants for crhr1 and crhr2 were produced by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Remarkably, biallelic mutant of both loci (crhr1 and crhr2) did not undergo female-to-male sex reversal upon HT exposition. Inhibition of this process in double crhrs mutants could be successfully rescued through the administration of the downstream effector of the hypothalamic-pituitary interrenal axis, the cortisol. Taken together, these results revealed for the first time the participation of the CNS acting as a transducer of masculinization induced by thermal stress.

The Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Family: Physiology of the Stress Response

The physiological stress response is responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis in the presence of real or perceived challenges. In this function, the brain activates adaptive responses that involve numerous neural circuits and effector molecules to adapt to the current and future demands. A maladaptive stress response has been linked to the etiology of a variety of disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders, eating disorders, and the metabolic syndrome. The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and its relatives, the urocortins 1–3, in concert with their receptors (CRFR1, CRFR2), have emerged as central components of the physiological stress response. This central peptidergic system impinges on a broad spectrum of physiological processes that are the basis for successful adaptation and concomitantly integrate autonomic, neuroendocrine, and behavioral stress responses. This review focuses on the physiology of CRF-related peptides and their cognate receptors with the aim of providing a comprehensive up-to-date overview of the field. We describe the major molecular features covering aspects of gene expression and regulation, structural properties, and molecular interactions, as well as mechanisms of signal transduction and their surveillance. In addition, we discuss the large body of published experimental studies focusing on state-of-the-art genetic approaches with high temporal and spatial precision, which collectively aimed to dissect the contribution of CRF-related ligands and receptors to different levels of the stress response. We discuss the controversies in the field and unravel knowledge gaps that might pave the way for future research directions and open up novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

Modification of feeding circuits in the evolution of social behavior

Adaptive trade-offs between foraging and social behavior intuitively explain many aspects of individual decision-making. Given the intimate connection between social behavior and feeding/foraging at the behavioral level, we propose that social behaviors are linked to foraging on a mechanistic level, and that modifications of feeding circuits are crucial in the evolution of complex social behaviors. In this Review, we first highlight the overlap between mechanisms underlying foraging and parental care and then expand this argument to consider the manipulation of feeding-related pathways in the evolution of other complex social behaviors. We include examples from diverse taxa to highlight that the independent evolution of complex social behaviors is a variation on the theme of feeding circuit modification.

Contribution of Urocortin to the Development of Excessive Drinking

The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system plays a role in alcohol consumption, and its dysregulation can contribute to alcohol use disorder. This system includes four peptide ligands: CRF, urocortin (Ucn)1, Ucn2, and Ucn3. Historically, attention focused on CRF, however, Ucn1 also plays a critical role in excessive alcohol use. This review covers evidence for this contribution and contrasts the role of Ucn1 with CRF. While CRF can promote binge consumption, this regulation occurs through generalized mechanisms that are not specific for alcohol. In contrast, inhibition of Ucn1 action specifically blunts escalation of alcohol drinking. Lesions, genetic knockout, and RNA interference experiments indicate that the centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus is the neuroanatomical source of Ucn1 critical for alcohol drinking. We propose that the contributions of Ucn1 to excessive drinking likely occur through enhancing rewarding properties of alcohol and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, whereas CRF drives dependence-induced drinking at later stages of alcohol use. The transition from occasional binge drinking to dependence intricately depends on CRF system plasticity and coordination of CRF and Ucn1.

Expression and actions of corticotropin-releasing factor/diuretic hormone-like peptide (CDLP) and teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP) in the vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis: Antagonism of the feeding response

Teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP) is a neuropeptide that bears some structural similarity to the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of peptides. TCAP and CRF are both implicated in the regulation of stress-related behaviors, as established in rodent models. However, in vertebrates, both TCAP and CRF possess three additional paralogous forms making vertebrate models difficult to assess with respect to TCAP-CRF interaction. As a urochordate, this species possesses single homologs of TCAP and of a CRF/Diuretic-like peptide (CDLP) in the genome, thereby establishing Ciona intestinalis as an excellent model organism to examine the interaction of these peptide systems. However, the lack of C. intestinalis synthetic peptides and specific antisera has complicated experimentation. We, therefore, prepared synthetic versions of CDLP and TCAP to prepare specific antisera and to investigate their bioactivity in this species. To analyze stress-related behaviors, a novel behavioral assay was used to characterize different types of contraction-based behaviors, using buccal opening contractions, cloacal opening contractions, lateral contractions, longitudinal contractions and expulsions. Protein and mRNA expression data indicate that the mature versions of both peptides are present in a number of tissues. With respect to behavioral activity, both TCAP- and CDLP-treated animals had distinct contraction profiles under ambient conditions. Moreover, food stimulation tests revealed that whereas CDLP-treated animals displayed a strong expulsion behavior in response to feeding, TCAP-treated animals did not show this effect. These actions are consistent with previous studies done in vertebrates.

Three urocortins in medaka: identification and spatial expression in the central nervous system

The urocortin (UCN) group of neuropeptides includes urocortin 1/sauvagine/urotensin 1 (UTS1), urocortin 2 (UCN2) and urocortin 3 (UCN3). In recent years, evidence has accumulated showing that UCNs play pivotal roles in mediating stress response and anxiety in mammals. Evidence has also emerged regarding the evolutionary conservation of UCNs in vertebrates, but very little information is available about UCNs in non-mammalian vertebrates. Indeed, at present, there are no reports of the empirical identification of ucn2 in non-mammalian vertebrates or of the distribution of ucn2 and ucn3 expression in the adult central nervous system (CNS) of these animals. To gain insight into the evolutionary nature of UCNs in vertebrates, we cloned uts1, ucn2 and ucn3 in a teleost fish, medaka and examined the spatial expression of these genes in the adult brain and spinal cord. Although all known UCN2 genes except those in rodents have been reported to likely lack the necessary structural features to produce a functional pre-pro-protein, all three UCN genes in medaka, including ucn2, displayed all of these features, suggesting their functionality. The three UCN genes exhibited distinct spatial expression patterns in the medaka brain: uts1 was primarily expressed in broad regions of the dorsal telencephalon, ucn2 was expressed in restricted regions of the thalamus and brainstem and ucn3 was expressed in discrete nuclei throughout many regions of the brain. We also found that these genes were all expressed throughout the medaka spinal cord, each with a distinct spatial pattern. Given that many of these regions have been implicated in stress responses and anxiety, the three UCNs may serve distinct physiological roles in the medaka CNS, including those involved in stress and anxiety, as shown in the mammalian CNS.

Activation of Brain Somatostatin Signaling Suppresses CRF Receptor-Mediated Stress Response

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is the hallmark brain peptide triggering the response to stress and mediates—in addition to the stimulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis—other hormonal, behavioral, autonomic and visceral components. Earlier reports indicate that somatostatin-28 injected intracerebroventricularly counteracts the acute stress-induced ACTH and catecholamine release. Mounting evidence now supports that activation of brain somatostatin signaling exerts a broader anti-stress effect by blunting the endocrine, autonomic, behavioral (with a focus on food intake) and visceral gastrointestinal motor responses through the involvement of distinct somatostatin receptor subtypes.

CRH peptide evolution occurred in three phases: Evidence from characterizing sea lamprey CRH system members

The corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) system, which includes the CRH family of peptides, their receptors (CRHRs) and a binding protein (CRHBP), has been strongly conserved throughout vertebrate evolution. The identification of invertebrate homologues suggests this system evolved over 500 million years ago. However, the early vertebrate evolution of the CRH system is not understood. Current theory indicates that agnathans (hagfishes and lampreys) are monophyletic with a conservative evolution over the past 500million years and occupy a position at the root of vertebrate phylogeny. We isolated the cDNAs for three CRH family members, two CRHRs and a CRHBP from the sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. Two of the CRH peptides are related to the CRH/urotensin-1 (UI) lineage, whereas the other is a urocortin (Ucn) 3 orthologue. The predicted amino acid identity of CRH and UI is 61% but they possess distinct motifs indicative of each peptide, suggesting an early divergence of the two genes. Based on our findings we propose the CRH peptides evolved in at least 3 distinct phases. The first occurring prior to the agnathans gave rise to the CRH/UI-like and Ucn2/3-like paralogous lineages. The second was a partial sub-genomic duplication of the ancestral CRH/UI-like gene, but not the Ucn2/3-like gene, giving rise to the CRH and UI (Ucn) lineages. The third event which resulted in the appearance of Ucn2 and Ucn3 must have occurred after the evolution of the cartilaginous fishes. Interestingly, unlike other vertebrate CRHRs, we were unable to classify our two P. marinus receptors (designated CRHRα and CRHRβ) as either type 1 or type 2, indicating that this split evolved later in vertebrate evolution. A single CRHBP gene was found suggesting that either this gene has not been affected by the vertebrate genome duplications or there have been a series of paralogous gene deletions. This study suggests that P. marinus possess a functional CRH system that differs from that of the gnathostomes and may represent a model for the earliest functioning CRH system in vertebrates.

Role of the teneurins, teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAP) in reproduction: clinical perspectives

In humans, the teneurin gene family consists of four highly conserved paralogous genes that are the result of early vertebrate gene duplications arising from a gene introduced into multicellular organisms from a bacterial ancestor. In vertebrates and humans, the teneurins have become integrated into a number of critical physiological systems including several aspects of reproductive physiology. Structurally complex, these genes possess a sequence in their terminal exon that encodes for a bioactive peptide sequence termed the 'teneurin C-terminal associated peptide' (TCAP). The teneurin/TCAP protein forms an intercellular adhesive unit with its receptor, latrophilin, an Adhesion family G-protein coupled receptor. It is present in numerous cell types and has been implicated in gamete migration and gonadal morphology. Moreover, TCAP is highly effective at reducing the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) stress response. As a result, TCAP may also play a role in regulating the stress-associated inhibition of reproduction. In addition, the teneurins and TCAP have been implicated in tumorigenesis associated with reproductive tissues. Therefore, the teneurin/TCAP system may offer clinicians a novel biomarker system upon which to diagnose some reproductive pathologies.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone family evolution: five ancestral genes remain in some lineages

The evolution of the peptide family consisting of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and the three urocortins (UCN1-3) has been puzzling due to uneven evolutionary rates. Distinct gene duplication scenarios have been proposed in relation to the two basal rounds of vertebrate genome doubling (2R) and the teleost fish-specific genome doubling (3R). By analyses of sequences and chromosomal regions, including many neighboring gene families, we show here that the vertebrate progenitor had two peptide genes that served as the founders of separate subfamilies. Then, 2R resulted in a total of five members: one subfamily consists of CRH1, CRH2, and UCN1. The other subfamily contains UCN2 and UCN3. All five peptide genes are present in the slowly evolving genomes of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae (a lobe-finned fish), the spotted gar Lepisosteus oculatus (a basal ray-finned fish), and the elephant shark Callorhinchus milii (a cartilaginous fish). The CRH2 gene has been lost independently in placental mammals and in teleost fish, but is present in birds (except chicken), anole lizard, and the nonplacental mammals platypus and opossum. Teleost 3R resulted in an additional surviving duplicate only for crh1 in some teleosts including zebrafish (crh1a and crh1b). We have previously reported that the two vertebrate CRH/UCN receptors arose in 2R and that CRHR1 was duplicated in 3R. Thus, we can now conclude that this peptide-receptor system was quite complex in the ancestor of the jawed vertebrates with five CRH/UCN peptides and two receptors, and that crh and crhr1 were duplicated in the teleost fish tetraploidization.

A comparison between the equine and bovine hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis

In this review, we address the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis with special emphasis on the comparison between the bovine and equine species. The pars intermedia of the pituitary gland is particularly well developed in horses and cattle. However, its function is not well appreciated in cattle yet. The Wulzen's cone of the adenohypophysis is a special feature of ruminants. Total basal cortisol concentration is much higher in horses than that in cows with similar free cortisol fractions. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) concentrations in equine pituitary venous blood are lower compared with other species, whereas plasma ACTH concentrations in cows are higher than those in horses. A CRF challenge test induced a more pronounced cortisol response in horses compared with cattle, whereas regarding ACTH challenge testing, the opposite seems true. Based on data from literature, the bovine species is characterized by relatively high basal blood CRF and ACTH and low cortisol and glucose concentrations. Obviously, further lowering of blood cortisol in cattle is easily prevented by the high sensitivity to ACTH, and as a consequence, subsequent increased gluconeogenesis prevents imminent hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is less likely in horses given their high muscle glycogen content and their relatively high cortisol concentration. When assessing HPA axis reactivity, response patterns to exogenous ACTH or CRH might be used as a reliable indicator of animal welfare status in cows and horses, respectively, although it is emphasized that considerable caution should be exercised in using measures of HPA activity solely to assess animal welfare.

Teneurins, TCAP, and latrophilins: roles in the etiology of mood disorders

Mood disorders, including anxiety and depression, are thought to be characterized by disrupted neuronal synapses and altered brain plasticity. The etiology is complex, involving numerous regions of the brain, comprising a multitude of neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems. Recently, new studies on the teneurins, an evolutionary ancient family of type II transmembrane proteins have been shown to interact with latrophilins (LPHN), a similarly phylogenetically old family of adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) forming a transsynaptic adhesion and ligand-receptor pair. Each of the four teneurin proteins contains bioactive sequences termed the teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAP-1-4), which possess a number of neuromodulatory effects. The primary structures of the TCAP are most closely similar to the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of peptides. CRF has been implicated in a number of diverse mood disorders. Via an association with dystroglycans, synthetic TCAP-1 administration to both embryonic and primary hippocampal cultures induces long-term changes in neuronal structure, specifically increased neurite outgrowth, dendritic branching, and axon growth. Rodent models treated with TCAP-1 show reduced anxiety responses in the elevated plus-maze, openfield test, and acoustic startle test and inhibited CRF-mediated cocaine-seeking behaviour. Thus the teneurin/TCAP-latrophilin interaction may play a major role in the origin, development and treatment of mood disorders.

Divergent evolution of two corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) genes in teleost fishes

Genome duplication, thought to have happened twice early in vertebrate evolution and a third time in teleost fishes, gives rise to gene paralogs that can evolve subfunctions or neofunctions via sequence and regulatory changes. To explore the evolution and functions of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), we searched sequenced teleost genomes for CRH paralogs. Our phylogenetic and synteny analyses indicate that two CRH genes, crha and crhb, evolved via duplication of crh1 early in the teleost lineage. We examined the expression of crha and crhb in two teleost species from different orders: an African cichlid, Burton's mouthbrooder, (Astatotilapia burtoni; Order Perciformes) and zebrafish (Danio rerio; Order Cypriniformes). Furthermore, we compared expression of the teleost crha and crhb genes with the crh1 gene of an outgroup to the teleost clade: the spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus). In situ hybridization for crha and crhb mRNA in brains and eyes revealed distinct expression patterns for crha in different teleost species. In the cichlid, crha mRNA was found in the retina but not in the brain. In zebrafish, however, crha mRNA was not found in the retina, but was detected in the brain, restricted to the ventral hypothalamus. Spotted gar crh1 was found in the retina as well as the brain, suggesting that the ancestor of teleost fishes likely had a crh1 gene expressed in both retina and brain. Thus, genome duplication may have freed crha from constraints, allowing it to evolve distinct sequences, expression patterns, and likely unique functions in different lineages.

Comparative effects of urocortins and stresscopin on cardiac myocyte contractility

RATIONALE

There is a current need for the development of new therapies for patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVE

We test the effects of members of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of peptides on myocyte contractility to validate them as potential heart failure therapeutics.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Adult feline left ventricular myocytes (AFMs) were isolated and contractility was assessed in the presence and absence of CRF peptides Urocortin 2 (UCN2), Urocortin 3 (UCN3), Stresscopin (SCP), and the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (Iso). An increase in fractional shortening and peak Ca(2+) transient amplitude was seen in the presence of all CRF peptides. A decrease in Ca(2+) decay rate (Tau) was also observed at all concentrations tested. cAMP generation was measured by ELISA in isolated AFMs in response to the CRF peptides and Iso and significant production was seen at all concentrations and time points tested.

CONCLUSIONS

The CRF family of peptides effectively increases cardiac contractility and should be evaluated as potential novel therapeutics for heart failure patients.

Characterization of the teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP) in the vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis: A novel peptide system associated with energy metabolism and reproduction

The vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis, is a protochordate and is considered a sister lineage to the chordates. The recent sequencing of its genome has made this species a particularly important model to understand the genetic basis of vertebrate evolution. However, C. intestinalis is also a highly invasive species along the Atlantic coast of North America and other regions of the world which have caused considerable economic stress due to its biofouling actions and, in particular, negative impacts on the mussel- and oyster-based aquaculture industry. Despite this background, little is known about C. intestinalis physiology. The teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAP) are a family of highly conserved peptide hormones found in most metazoans. Moreover, these peptides have been implicated in the inhibition of stress and stimulation of feeding-based metabolism. We have, therefore, identified this peptide using an in silico approach and characterized its immunological expression in tissues using a mouse polyclonal antiserum. These data indicate that its primary structure is more similar to invertebrate TCAPs relative to vertebrate TCAPs. Immunological expression indicates that it is highly expressed in the digestive tract and gonads consistent with findings in vertebrates. Synthetic mouse TCAP-1 administered into the brachial basket significantly increases the incidence of non-stress contractile behaviors. These findings support the hypothesis that TCAP is a bioactive peptide in C. intestinalis. Thus, C. intestinalis and tunicates in general may offer a simple model to investigate peptide interaction while providing information on how to control this invasive species.

Ancient interaction between the teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAP) and latrophilin ligand-receptor coupling: a role in behavior

Teneurins are multifunctional transmembrane proteins that are found in all multicellular animals and exist as four paralogous forms in vertebrates. They are highly expressed in the central nervous system, where they exert their effects, in part, by high-affinity binding to latrophilin (LPHN), a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) related to the adhesion and secretin GPCR families. The teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAPs) are encoded by the terminal exon of all four teneurins, where TCAPs 1 and 3 are independently transcribed as soluble peptides, and TCAPs 2 and 4 remain tethered to their teneurin proprotein. Synthetic TCAP-1 interacts with LPHN, with an association with β-dystroglycan, to induce a tissue-dependent signal cascade to modulate cytoskeletal dynamics. TCAP-1 reduces stress-induced behaviors associated with anxiety, addiction and depression in a variety of models, in part, by regulating synaptic plasticity. Therefore, the TCAP-1-teneurin-LPHN interaction represents a novel receptor-ligand model and may represent a key mechanism underlying the association of behavior and neurological conditions.

A second corticotropin-releasing hormone gene (CRH2) is conserved across vertebrate classes and expressed in the hindbrain of a basal neopterygian fish, the spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)

To investigate the origins of the vertebrate stress-response system, we searched sequenced vertebrate genomes for genes resembling corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). We found that vertebrate genomes possess, in addition to CRH, another gene that resembles CRH in sequence and syntenic environment. This paralogous gene was previously identified only in the elephant shark (a holocephalan), but we find it also in marsupials, monotremes, lizards, turtles, birds, and fishes. We examined the relationship of this second vertebrate CRH gene, which we name CRH2, to CRH1 (previously known as CRH) and urocortin1/urotensin1 (UCN1/UTS1) in primitive fishes, teleosts, and tetrapods. The paralogs CRH1 and CRH2 likely evolved via duplication of CRH during a whole-genome duplication early in the vertebrate lineage. CRH2 was subsequently lost in both teleost fishes and eutherian mammals but retained in other lineages. To determine where CRH2 is expressed relative to CRH1 and UTS1, we used in situ hybridization on brain tissue from spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus), a neopterygian fish closely related to teleosts. In situ hybridization revealed widespread distribution of both crh1 and uts1 in the brain. Expression of crh2 was restricted to the putative secondary gustatory/secondary visceral nucleus, which also expressed calcitonin-related polypeptide alpha (calca), a marker of parabrachial nucleus in mammals. Thus, the evolutionary history of CRH2 includes restricted expression in the brain, sequence changes, and gene loss, likely reflecting release of selective constraints following whole-genome duplication. The discovery of CRH2 opens many new possibilities for understanding the diverse functions of the CRH family of peptides across vertebrates.

New insights into the evolution of vertebrate CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone) and invertebrate DH44 (diuretic hormone 44) receptors in metazoans

The corticotropin releasing hormone receptors (CRHR) and the arthropod diuretic hormone 44 receptors (DH44R) are structurally and functionally related members of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) of the secretin-like receptor superfamily. We show here that they derive from a bilaterian predecessor. In protostomes, the receptor became DH44R that has been identified and functionally characterised in several arthropods but the gene seems to be absent from nematode genomes. Duplicate DH44R genes (DH44 R1 and DH44R2) have been described in some arthropods resulting from lineage-specific duplications. Recently, CRHR-DH44R-like receptors have been identified in the genomes of some lophotrochozoans (molluscs, which have a lineage-specific gene duplication, and annelids) as well as representatives of early diverging deuterostomes. Vertebrates have previously been reported to have two CRHR receptors that were named CRHR1 and CRHR2. To resolve their origin we have analysed recently assembled genomes from representatives of early vertebrate divergencies including elephant shark, spotted gar and coelacanth. We show here by analysis of synteny conservation that the two CRHR genes arose from a common ancestral gene in the early vertebrate tetraploidizations (2R) approximately 500 million years ago. Subsequently, the teleost-specific tetraploidization (3R) resulted in a duplicate of CRHR1 that has been lost in some teleost lineages. These results help distinguish orthology and paralogy relationships and will allow studies of functional conservation and changes during evolution of the individual members of the receptor family and their multiple native peptide agonists.

Molecular evolution of GPCRs: CRH/CRH receptors

Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) is the pivotal neuroendocrine peptide hormone associated with the regulation of the stress response in vertebrates. However, CRH-like peptides are also found in a number of invertebrate species. The origin of this peptide can be traced to a common ancestor of lineages leading to chordates and to arthropods, postulated to occur some 500 million years ago. Evidence indicates the presence of a single CRH-like receptor and a soluble binding protein system that acted to transduce and regulate the actions of the early CRH peptide. In vertebrates, genome duplications led to the divergence of CRH receptors into CRH1 and CRH2 forms in tandem with the development of four paralogous ligand lineages that included CRH; urotensin I/urocortin (Ucn), Ucn2 and Ucn3. In addition, taxon-specific genome duplications led to further local divergences in CRH ligands and receptors. Functionally, the CRH ligand-receptor system evolved initially as a molecular system to integrate early diuresis and nutrient acquisition. As multicellular organisms evolved into more complex forms, this ligand-receptor system became integrated with the organismal stress response to coordinate homoeostatic challenges with internal energy usage. In vertebrates, CRH and the CRH1 receptor became associated with the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal/interrenal axis and the initial stress response, whereas the CRH2 receptor was selected to play a greater role in diuresis, nutrient acquisition and the latter aspects of the stress response.

CRF and urocortin peptides as modulators of energy balance and feeding behavior during stress

Early on, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a hallmark brain peptide mediating many components of the stress response, was shown to affect food intake inducing a robust anorexigenic response when injected into the rodent brain. Subsequently, other members of the CRF signaling family have been identified, namely urocortin (Ucn) 1, Ucn 2, and Ucn 3 which were also shown to decrease food intake upon central or peripheral injection. However, the kinetics of feeding suppression was different with an early decrease following intracerebroventricular injection of CRF and a delayed action of Ucns contrasting with the early onset after systemic injection. CRF and Ucns bind to two distinct G-protein coupled membrane receptors, the CRF1 and CRF2. New pharmacological tools such as highly selective peptide CRF1 or CRF2 agonists or antagonists along with genetic knock-in or knock-out models have allowed delineating the primary role of CRF2 involved in the anorexic response to exogenous administration of CRF and Ucns. Several stressors trigger behavioral changes including suppression of feeding behavior which are mediated by brain CRF receptor activation. The present review will highlight the state-of-knowledge on the effects and mechanisms of action of CRF/Ucns-CRF1/2 signaling under basal conditions and the role in the alterations of food intake in response to stress.

Teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAP): modulators of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) physiology and behavior

The existence of the teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAP) was reported in 2004 after screening a rainbow trout hypothalamic cDNA for corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-related homologs. In vertebrates, there are four TCAP paralogs, where each peptide is associated with a teneurin transmembrane protein. The TCAPs are 40 or 41 amino acids in length and possess less than 20% residue identity with the CRF family of paralogs. Orthologs of TCAP are found in all metazoans with the possible exception of poriferans and cnidarians. Recent evidence indicates that TCAP and the teneurins may have been introduced into the Metazoa via horizontal gene transfer from prokaryotes into a basal protistan. Thus, the origin of the TCAPs likely predated that of the CRF family. In the mammalian brain, TCAP-1 is transcribed independently from teneurin-1. Moreover, TCAP-1 acts on neurons by a CRF-receptor independent signal transduction pathway to regulate cellular cytoskeletal function to stimulate cell activity. Administration of synthetic TCAP-1 to rodents inhibits a number of CRF- and stress-associated behaviors via a hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis-independent mechanism.