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Su L, Li G, Chow BKC, Cardoso JCR. Neuropeptides and receptors in the cephalochordate: A crucial model for understanding the origin and evolution of vertebrate neuropeptide systems. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 592:112324. [PMID: 38944371 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Genomes and transcriptomes from diverse organisms are providing a wealth of data to explore the evolution and origin of neuropeptides and their receptors in metazoans. While most neuropeptide-receptor systems have been extensively studied in vertebrates, there is still a considerable lack of understanding regarding their functions in invertebrates, an extraordinarily diverse group that account for the majority of animal species on Earth. Cephalochordates, commonly known as amphioxus or lancelets, serve as the evolutionary proxy of the chordate ancestor. Their key evolutionary position, bridging the invertebrate to vertebrate transition, has been explored to uncover the origin, evolution, and function of vertebrate neuropeptide systems. Amphioxus genomes exhibit a high degree of sequence and structural conservation with vertebrates, and sequence and functional homologues of several vertebrate neuropeptide families are present in cephalochordates. This review aims to provide a comprehensively overview of the recent findings on neuropeptides and their receptors in cephalochordates, highlighting their significance as a model for understanding the complex evolution of neuropeptide signaling in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuru Su
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Guang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Billy K C Chow
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - João C R Cardoso
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
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2
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Henriques-Santos BM, Baker D, Zhou N, Snavely T, Sacchettini JC, Pietrantonio PV. Target-based discovery of antagonists of the tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) kinin receptor identifies small molecules that inhibit midgut contractions. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38899490 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A GPCR (G protein-coupled receptor) target-based approach was applied to identify antagonists of the arthropod-specific tick kinin receptor. These small molecules were expected to reproduce the detrimental phenotypic effects that had been observed in Rhipicephalus microplus females when the kinin receptor was silenced by RNA interference. Rhipicephalus microplus, the southern cattle tick, cattle fever tick, or Asian blue tick, is the vector of pathogenic microorganisms causing the deadly bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis. The widespread resistance to acaricides in tick populations worldwide emphasizes that exploring novel targets for effective tick control is imperative. RESULTS Fifty-three structural analogs of previously identified tick kinin antagonists were screened in a 'dual-addition' calcium fluorescence assay using a CHO-K1 cell line expressing the tick kinin receptor. Seven molecules were validated as non-cytotoxic antagonists, four of which were partial (SACC-0428764, SACC-0428780, SACC-0428800, and SACC-0428803), and three were full antagonists (SACC-0428799, SACC-0428801, and SACC-0428815). Four of these antagonists (SACC-0428764, SACC-0428780, SACC-0428799, and SACC-0428815) also inhibited the tick midgut contractions induced by the myotropic kinin agonist analog 1728, verifying their antagonistic bioactivity. The small molecules were tested on recombinant human neurokinin (NK) receptors, the one most similar to the invertebrate kinin receptors. Most molecules were inhibitors of the NK1 receptor, except SACC-0412066, a previously identified tick kinin receptor antagonist, which inhibited the NK1 receptor only at the highest concentration tested (25 μm). None of the molecules inhibited the NK3 human receptor. CONCLUSION Molecules identified through this approach could be useful probes for studying the tick kinin signaling system and midgut physiology. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dwight Baker
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Nian Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Thomas Snavely
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - James C Sacchettini
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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3
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Jin S, Guo S, Xu Y, Li X, Wu C, He X, Pan B, Xin W, Zhang H, Hu W, Yin Y, Zhang T, Wu K, Yuan Q, Xu HE, Xie X, Jiang Y. Structural basis for recognition of 26RFa by the pyroglutamylated RFamide peptide receptor. Cell Discov 2024; 10:58. [PMID: 38830850 PMCID: PMC11148045 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-024-00670-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide 26RFa, a member of the RF-amide peptide family, activates the pyroglutamylated RF-amide peptide receptor (QRFPR), a class A GPCR. The 26RFa/QRFPR system plays critical roles in energy homeostasis, making QRFPR an attractive drug target for treating obesity, diabetes, and eating disorders. However, the lack of structural information has hindered our understanding of the peptide recognition and regulatory mechanism of QRFPR, impeding drug design efforts. In this study, we determined the cryo-EM structure of the Gq-coupled QRFPR bound to 26RFa. The structure reveals a unique assembly mode of the extracellular region of the receptor and the N-terminus of the peptide, and elucidates the recognition mechanism of the C-terminal heptapeptide of 26RFa by the transmembrane binding pocket of QRFPR. The study also clarifies the similarities and distinctions in the binding pattern of the RF-amide moiety in five RF-amide peptides and the RY-amide segment in neuropeptide Y. These findings deepen our understanding of the RF-amide peptide recognition, aiding in the rational design of drugs targeting QRFPR and other RF-amide peptide receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shimeng Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Youwei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Canrong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Wenwen Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- The Shanghai Advanced Electron Microscope Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Tianwei Zhang
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- The Shanghai Advanced Electron Microscope Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingning Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- The Shanghai Advanced Electron Microscope Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - H Eric Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- The Shanghai Advanced Electron Microscope Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong, China.
| | - Yi Jiang
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
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4
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Cardoso JCR, Mc Shane JC, Li Z, Peng M, Power DM. Revisiting the evolution of Family B1 GPCRs and ligands: Insights from mollusca. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 586:112192. [PMID: 38408601 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Family B1 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the most well studied neuropeptide receptor families since they play a central role in many biological processes including endocrine, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and reproduction in animals. The genes for these receptors emerged from a common ancestral gene in bilaterian genomes and evolved via gene/genome duplications and deletions in vertebrate and invertebrate genomes. Their existence and function have mostly been characterized in vertebrates and few studies exist in invertebrate species. Recently, an increased interest in molluscs, means a series of genomes have become available, and since they are less modified than insect and nematode genomes, they are ideal to explore the origin and evolution of neuropeptide gene families. This review provides an overview of Family B1 GPCRs and their peptide ligands and incorporates new data obtained from Mollusca genomes and taking a comparative approach challenges existing models on their origin and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- João C R Cardoso
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
| | - Jennifer C Mc Shane
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Zhi Li
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Maoxiao Peng
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Deborah M Power
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
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5
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Cholewiński M, Chowański S, Lubawy J, Urbański A, Walkowiak-Nowicka K, Marciniak P. Short neuropeptide F in integrated insect physiology. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2024; 25:389-409. [PMID: 38725339 PMCID: PMC11087187 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2300355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
The short neuropeptide F (sNPF) family of peptides is a multifunctional group of neurohormones involved in the regulation of various physiological processes in insects. They have been found in a broad spectrum of species, but the number of isoforms in the precursor molecule varies from one to four. The receptor for sNPF (sNPFR), which belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor family, has been characterized in various insect orders and was shown to be an ortholog of the mammalian prolactin-releasing peptide receptor (PrPR). The sNPF signaling pathway interacts with other neurohormones such as insulin-like peptides, SIFamide, and pigment-dispersing factors (PDFs) to regulate various processes. The main physiological function of sNPF seems to be involved in the regulation of feeding, but the observed effects are species-specific. sNPF is also connected with the regulation of foraging behavior and the olfactory system. The influence of sNPF on feeding and thus energy metabolism may also indirectly affect other vital processes, such as reproduction and development. In addition, these neurohormones are involved in the regulation of locomotor activity and circadian rhythm in insects. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about the sNPF system in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Paweł Marciniak
- Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań 61-614, Poland.
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Thiel D, Yañez Guerra LA, Kieswetter A, Cole AG, Temmerman L, Technau U, Jékely G. Large-scale deorphanization of Nematostella vectensis neuropeptide G protein-coupled receptors supports the independent expansion of bilaterian and cnidarian peptidergic systems. eLife 2024; 12:RP90674. [PMID: 38727714 PMCID: PMC11087051 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides are ancient signaling molecules in animals but only few peptide receptors are known outside bilaterians. Cnidarians possess a large number of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) - the most common receptors of bilaterian neuropeptides - but most of these remain orphan with no known ligands. We searched for neuropeptides in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis and created a library of 64 peptides derived from 33 precursors. In a large-scale pharmacological screen with these peptides and 161 N. vectensis GPCRs, we identified 31 receptors specifically activated by 1 to 3 of 14 peptides. Mapping GPCR and neuropeptide expression to single-cell sequencing data revealed how cnidarian tissues are extensively connected by multilayer peptidergic networks. Phylogenetic analysis identified no direct orthology to bilaterian peptidergic systems and supports the independent expansion of neuropeptide signaling in cnidarians from a few ancestral peptide-receptor pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Thiel
- Living Systems Institute, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Amanda Kieswetter
- Animal Physiology & Neurobiology, Department of Biology, University of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Alison G Cole
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Liesbet Temmerman
- Animal Physiology & Neurobiology, Department of Biology, University of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Ulrich Technau
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Gáspár Jékely
- Living Systems Institute, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
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7
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Istiban MN, De Fruyt N, Kenis S, Beets I. Evolutionary conserved peptide and glycoprotein hormone-like neuroendocrine systems in C. elegans. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 584:112162. [PMID: 38290646 PMCID: PMC11004728 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Peptides and protein hormones form the largest group of secreted signals that mediate intercellular communication and are central regulators of physiology and behavior in all animals. Phylogenetic analyses and biochemical identifications of peptide-receptor systems reveal a broad evolutionary conservation of these signaling systems at the molecular level. Substantial progress has been made in recent years on characterizing the physiological and putative ancestral roles of many peptide systems through comparative studies in invertebrate models. Several peptides and protein hormones are not only molecularly conserved but also have conserved roles across animal phyla. Here, we focus on functional insights gained in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that, with its compact and well-described nervous system, provides a powerful model to dissect neuroendocrine signaling networks involved in the control of physiology and behavior. We summarize recent discoveries on the evolutionary conservation and knowledge on the functions of peptide and protein hormone systems in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majdulin Nabil Istiban
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nathan De Fruyt
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Signe Kenis
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Isabel Beets
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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8
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Rinne MK, Urvas L, Mandrika I, Fridmanis D, Riddy DM, Langmead CJ, Kukkonen JP, Xhaard H. Characterization of a putative orexin receptor in Ciona intestinalis sheds light on the evolution of the orexin/hypocretin system in chordates. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7690. [PMID: 38565870 PMCID: PMC10987541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56508-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Tunicates are evolutionary model organisms bridging the gap between vertebrates and invertebrates. A genomic sequence in Ciona intestinalis (CiOX) shows high similarity to vertebrate orexin receptors and protostome allatotropin receptors (ATR). Here, molecular phylogeny suggested that CiOX is divergent from ATRs and human orexin receptors (hOX1/2). However, CiOX appears closer to hOX1/2 than to ATR both in terms of sequence percent identity and in its modelled binding cavity, as suggested by molecular modelling. CiOX was heterologously expressed in a recombinant HEK293 cell system. Human orexins weakly but concentration-dependently activated its Gq signalling (Ca2+ elevation), and the responses were inhibited by the non-selective orexin receptor antagonists TCS 1102 and almorexant, but only weakly by the OX1-selective antagonist SB-334867. Furthermore, the 5-/6-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA)-labelled human orexin-A was able to bind to CiOX. Database mining was used to predict a potential endogenous C. intestinalis orexin peptide (Ci-orexin-A). Ci-orexin-A was able to displace TAMRA-orexin-A, but not to induce any calcium response at the CiOX. Consequently, we suggested that the orexin signalling system is conserved in Ciona intestinalis, although the relevant peptide-receptor interaction was not fully elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiju K Rinne
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, POB 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, POB 66, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Pharmacology, Medicum, University of Helsinki, POB 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lauri Urvas
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, POB 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Ilona Mandrika
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Darren M Riddy
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Christopher J Langmead
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Jyrki P Kukkonen
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, POB 66, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Pharmacology, Medicum, University of Helsinki, POB 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Henri Xhaard
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, POB 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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9
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Lin Z, Agarwal V, Cong Y, Pomponi SA, Schmidt EW. Short macrocyclic peptides in sponge genomes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2314383121. [PMID: 38442178 PMCID: PMC10945851 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314383121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Sponges (Porifera) contain many peptide-specialized metabolites with potent biological activities and significant roles in shaping marine ecology. It is well established that symbiotic bacteria produce bioactive "sponge" peptides, both on the ribosome (RiPPs) and nonribosomally. Here, we demonstrate that sponges themselves also produce many bioactive macrocyclic peptides, such as phakellistatins and related proline-rich macrocyclic peptides (PRMPs). Using the Stylissa carteri sponge transcriptome, methods were developed to find sequences encoding 46 distinct RiPP-type core peptides, of which ten encoded previously identified PRMP sequences. With this basis set, the genome and transcriptome of the sponge Axinella corrugata was interrogated to find 35 PRMP precursor peptides encoding 31 unique core peptide sequences. At least 11 of these produced cyclic peptides that were present in the sponge and could be characterized by mass spectrometry, including stylissamides A-D and seven previously undescribed compounds. Precursor peptides were encoded in the A. corrugata genome, confirming their animal origin. The peptides contained signal peptide sequences and highly repetitive recognition sequence-core peptide elements with up to 25 PRMP copies in a single precursor. In comparison to sponges without PRMPs, PRMP sponges are incredibly enriched in potentially secreted polypeptides, with >23,000 individual signal peptide encoding genes found in a single transcriptome. The similarities between PRMP biosynthetic genes and neuropeptides in terms of their biosynthetic logic suggest a fundamental biology linked to circular peptides, possibly indicating a widespread and underappreciated diversity of signaling peptide post-translational modifications across the animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjian Lin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT84112
| | - Vinayak Agarwal
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA30332
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA30332
| | - Ying Cong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT84112
| | - Shirley A. Pomponi
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL34946
| | - Eric W. Schmidt
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT84112
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10
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Medina-Jiménez BI, Budd GE, Janssen R. Single-cell RNA sequencing of mid-to-late stage spider embryos: new insights into spider development. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:150. [PMID: 38326752 PMCID: PMC10848406 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09898-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum represents an emerging new model organism of arthropod evolutionary and developmental (EvoDevo) studies. Recent technical advances have resulted in the first single-cell sequencing (SCS) data on this species allowing deeper insights to be gained into its early development, but mid-to-late stage embryos were not included in these pioneering studies. RESULTS Therefore, we performed SCS on mid-to-late stage embryos of Parasteatoda and characterized resulting cell clusters by means of in-silico analysis (comparison of key markers of each cluster with previously published information on these genes). In-silico prediction of the nature of each cluster was then tested/verified by means of additional in-situ hybridization experiments with additional markers of each cluster. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that SCS data reliably group cells with similar genetic fingerprints into more or less distinct clusters, and thus allows identification of developing cell types on a broader level, such as the distinction of ectodermal, mesodermal and endodermal cell lineages, as well as the identification of distinct developing tissues such as subtypes of nervous tissue cells, the developing heart, or the ventral sulcus (VS). In comparison with recent other SCS studies on the same species, our data represent later developmental stages, and thus provide insights into different stages of developing cell types and tissues such as differentiating neurons and the VS that are only present at these later stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda I Medina-Jiménez
- Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Graham E Budd
- Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ralf Janssen
- Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden.
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11
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Favrel P, Dubos MP, Bernay B, Pasquier J, Schwartz J, Lefranc B, Mouret L, Rivière G, Leprince J, Bondon A. Structural and functional characterization of an egg-laying hormone signaling system in a lophotrochozoan - The pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 346:114417. [PMID: 38030018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The egg-laying hormones (ELHs) of gastropod mollusks were characterized more than forty years ago. Yet, they have remained little explored in other mollusks. To gain insights into the functionality of the ELH signaling system in a bivalve mollusk - the oyster Crassostrea gigas, this study investigates the processing of its ELH precursor (Cragi-ELH) by mass spectrometry. Some of the ELH mature peptides identified in this study were subsequently investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance and shown to adopt an extended alpha-helix structure in a micellar medium mimicking the plasma membrane. To further characterize the ELH signaling system in C. gigas, a G protein-coupled receptor phylogenetically related to ecdysozoan diuretic hormone DH44 and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptors named Cragi-ELHR was also characterized functionally and shown to be specifically activated by the two predicted mature ELH peptides and their N-terminal fragments. Both Cragi-ELH and Cragi-ELHR encoding genes were mostly expressed in the visceral ganglia (VG). Cragi-ELH expression was significantly increased in the VG of both fully mature male and female oysters at the spawning stage. When the oysters were submitted to a nutritional or hyposaline stress, no change in the expression of the ligand or receptor genes was recorded, except for Cragi-ELHR only during a mild acclimation episode to brackish water. These results suggest a role of Cragi-ELH signaling in the regulation of reproduction but not in mediating the stress response in our experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Favrel
- Université Caen Normandie, Normandie Univ, Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, UPMC, UA, CNRS 7208, IRD 207, Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), CS14032, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen, Cedex 5, France.
| | - M P Dubos
- Université Caen Normandie, Normandie Univ, Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, UPMC, UA, CNRS 7208, IRD 207, Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), CS14032, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen, Cedex 5, France
| | - B Bernay
- Université Caen Normandie, Normandie Univ, US EMERODE, PROTEOGEN Core Facility, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen, cedex 05, France
| | - J Pasquier
- Université Caen Normandie, Normandie Univ, Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, UPMC, UA, CNRS 7208, IRD 207, Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), CS14032, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen, Cedex 5, France
| | - J Schwartz
- Université Caen Normandie, Normandie Univ, Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, UPMC, UA, CNRS 7208, IRD 207, Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), CS14032, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen, Cedex 5, France
| | - B Lefranc
- Université Rouen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, NorDic UMR1239, Laboratoire de Différenciation et Communication Neuroendocrine, Endocrine et Germinale, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - L Mouret
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - G Rivière
- Université Caen Normandie, Normandie Univ, Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, UPMC, UA, CNRS 7208, IRD 207, Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), CS14032, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen, Cedex 5, France
| | - J Leprince
- Université Rouen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, NorDic UMR1239, Laboratoire de Différenciation et Communication Neuroendocrine, Endocrine et Germinale, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - A Bondon
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000 Rennes, France
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12
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Van Bael S, Ludwig C, Baggerman G, Temmerman L. Identification and Targeted Quantification of Endogenous Neuropeptides in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans Using Mass Spectrometry. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2758:341-373. [PMID: 38549024 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3646-6_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans lends itself as an excellent model organism for peptidomics studies. Its ease of cultivation and quick generation time make it suitable for high-throughput studies. The nervous system, with its 302 neurons, is probably the best-known and studied endocrine tissue. Moreover, its neuropeptidergic signaling pathways display numerous similarities with those observed in other metazoans. Here, we describe two label-free approaches for neuropeptidomics in C. elegans: one for discovery purposes, and another for targeted quantification and comparisons of neuropeptide levels between different samples. Starting from a detailed peptide extraction procedure, we here outline the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) setup and describe subsequent data analysis approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Van Bael
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christina Ludwig
- Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry (BayBioMS), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Geert Baggerman
- Center for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Temmerman
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
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13
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Li G, Qiu J, Cao H, Zheng L, Chi C, Li S, Zhou X. Molecular Characterization, Expression and In Situ Hybridization Analysis of a Pedal Peptide/Orcokinin-type Neuropeptide in Cuttlefish Sepiella japonica. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2024; 25:326-338. [PMID: 38243942 DOI: 10.2174/0113892037255378231101065721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropeptide pedal peptide (PP) and orcokinin (OK), which are structurally related active peptides, have been widely discovered in invertebrates and constitute the PP/OK neuropeptide family. They have complex structures and play myriad roles in physiological processes. To date, there have been no related reports of PP/OK-type neuropeptide in cephalopods, which possess a highly differentiated multi-lobular brain. METHODS Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) was employed to obtain the open reading frame (ORF) of PP/OK-type neuropeptide in Sepiella japonica (termed as Sj-PP/OK). Various software were used for sequence analysis. Semi-quantitative PCR was applied to analyze the tissue distribution profile, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to study spatio-temporal expression throughout the entire growth and development period, and in situ hybridization (ISH) was employed to observe the tissue location of Sj-PP/OK. RESULTS in the present study, we identified the ORF of Sj-PP/OK. The putative precursor of Sj-PP/ OK encodes 22 mature peptides, of which only tridecapeptides could undergo post-translationally amidated at C-terminus. Each of these tridecapeptides possesses the most conserved and frequent N-terminus Asp-Ser-Ile (DSI). Sequence analysis revealed that Sj-PP/OK shared comparatively low identity with other invertebrates PP or OK. The tissue distribution profile showed differences in the expression level of Sj-PP/OK between male and female. qRT-PCR data demonstrated that Sj-PP/OK was widely distributed in various tissues, with its expression level increasing continuously in the brain, optic lobe, liver, and nidamental gland throughout the entire growth and development stages until gonad maturation. ISH detected that Sj-PP/OK positive signals existed in almost all regions of the optic lobe except the plexiform zone, the outer edge of all functional lobes in the brain, epithelial cells and the outer membrane layer of the accessory nidamental gland. These findings suggest that Sj-PP/OK might play a role in the regulation of reproduction, such as vitellogenin synthesis, restoration, and ova encapsulation. CONCLUSION The study indicated that Sj-PP/OK may be involved in the neuroendocrine regulation in cephalopods, providing primary theoretical basis for further studies of its regulation role in reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gong Li
- National and Provincial Joint Engineering Research Centre for Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Jiayin Qiu
- National and Provincial Joint Engineering Research Centre for Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Huimin Cao
- National and Provincial Joint Engineering Research Centre for Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Libing Zheng
- National and Provincial Joint Engineering Research Centre for Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Changfeng Chi
- National and Provincial Joint Engineering Research Centre for Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Shuang Li
- National and Provincial Joint Engineering Research Centre for Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Xu Zhou
- National and Provincial Joint Engineering Research Centre for Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
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14
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Cadena-Caballero CE, Munive-Argüelles N, Vera-Cala LM, Barrios-Hernandez C, Duarte-Bernal RO, Ayus-Ortiz VL, Pardo-Díaz LA, Agudelo-Rodríguez M, Bautista-Rozo LX, Jimenez-Gutierrez LR, Martinez-Perez F. APGW/AKH Precursor from Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and the DNA Loss Model Explain Evolutionary Trends of the Neuropeptide LWamide, APGWamide, RPCH, AKH, ACP, CRZ, and GnRH Families. J Mol Evol 2023; 91:882-896. [PMID: 38102415 PMCID: PMC10730642 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-023-10146-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
In the year 2002, DNA loss model (DNA-LM) postulated that neuropeptide genes to emerged through codons loss via the repair of damaged DNA from ancestral gene namely Neuropeptide Precursor Predictive (NPP), which organization correspond two or more neuropeptides precursors evolutive related. The DNA-LM was elaborated according to amino acids homology among LWamide, APGWamide, red pigment-concentrating hormone (RPCH), adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) and in silico APGW/RPCH NPPAPGW/AKH NPP were proposed. With the above principle, it was proposed the evolution of corazonin (CRZ), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), AKH, and AKH/CRZ (ACP), but any NPP never was considered. However, the evolutive relation via DNA-LM among these neuropeptides precursors not has been established yet. Therefore, the transcriptomes from crabs Callinectes toxotes and Callinectes arcuatus were used to characterized ACP and partial CRZ precursors, respectively. BLAST alignment with APGW/RPCH NPP and APGW/AKH NPP allow identified similar NPP in the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and other invertebrates. Moreover, three bioinformatics algorithms and manual verification were used to purify 13,778 sequences, generating a database with 719 neuropeptide precursors. Phylogenetic trees with the DNA-LM parameters showed that some ACP, CRZ, AKH2 and two NPP share nodes with GnRH from vertebrates and some of this neuropeptide had nodes in invertebrates. Whereas the phylogenetic tree with standard parameters do not showed previous node pattern. Robinson-Foulds metric corroborates the differences among phylogenetic trees. Homology relationship showed four putative orthogroups; AKH4, CRZ, and protostomes GnRH had individual group. This is the first demonstration of NPP in species and would explain the evolution neuropeptide families by the DNA-LM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian E Cadena-Caballero
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Nestor Munive-Argüelles
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Lina M Vera-Cala
- Grupo de Investigación en Demografía, Salud Pública y Sistemas de Salud (GUINDESS), Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Carlos Barrios-Hernandez
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Ruben O Duarte-Bernal
- Biomedical Imaging, Vision and Learning Laboratory (BIVL2ab), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Viviana L Ayus-Ortiz
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Luis A Pardo-Díaz
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Mayra Agudelo-Rodríguez
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Lola X Bautista-Rozo
- Biomedical Imaging, Vision and Learning Laboratory (BIVL2ab), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Laura R Jimenez-Gutierrez
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, 82000, Mazatlán, México
- Cátedra-CONAHCyT, Consejo Nacional de Humanidades Ciencias y Tecnología, 03940, CDMX, México
| | - Francisco Martinez-Perez
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia.
- Laboratorio de Genómica Celular Aplicada (LGCA), Grupo de Microbiología y Genética, Escuela de Biología, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia.
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15
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Ripoll-Sánchez L, Watteyne J, Sun H, Fernandez R, Taylor SR, Weinreb A, Bentley BL, Hammarlund M, Miller DM, Hobert O, Beets I, Vértes PE, Schafer WR. The neuropeptidergic connectome of C. elegans. Neuron 2023; 111:3570-3589.e5. [PMID: 37935195 PMCID: PMC7615469 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Efforts are ongoing to map synaptic wiring diagrams, or connectomes, to understand the neural basis of brain function. However, chemical synapses represent only one type of functionally important neuronal connection; in particular, extrasynaptic, "wireless" signaling by neuropeptides is widespread and plays essential roles in all nervous systems. By integrating single-cell anatomical and gene-expression datasets with biochemical analysis of receptor-ligand interactions, we have generated a draft connectome of neuropeptide signaling in the C. elegans nervous system. This network is characterized by high connection density, extended signaling cascades, autocrine foci, and a decentralized topology, with a large, highly interconnected core containing three constituent communities sharing similar patterns of input connectivity. Intriguingly, several key network hubs are little-studied neurons that appear specialized for peptidergic neuromodulation. We anticipate that the C. elegans neuropeptidergic connectome will serve as a prototype to understand how networks of neuromodulatory signaling are organized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Ripoll-Sánchez
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK; Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jan Watteyne
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - HaoSheng Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences/HHMI, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Robert Fernandez
- Department of Biological Sciences/HHMI, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seth R Taylor
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alexis Weinreb
- Departments of Genetics and Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Barry L Bentley
- Cardiff School of Technologies, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Marc Hammarlund
- Departments of Genetics and Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - David M Miller
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biological Sciences/HHMI, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Isabel Beets
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Petra E Vértes
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - William R Schafer
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK; Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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16
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Moroz LL, Romanova DY. Chemical cognition: chemoconnectomics and convergent evolution of integrative systems in animals. Anim Cogn 2023; 26:1851-1864. [PMID: 38015282 PMCID: PMC11106658 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01833-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Neurons underpin cognition in animals. However, the roots of animal cognition are elusive from both mechanistic and evolutionary standpoints. Two conceptual frameworks both highlight and promise to address these challenges. First, we discuss evidence that animal neural and other integrative systems evolved more than once (convergent evolution) within basal metazoan lineages, giving us unique experiments by Nature for future studies. The most remarkable examples are neural systems in ctenophores and neuroid-like systems in placozoans and sponges. Second, in addition to classical synaptic wiring, a chemical connectome mediated by hundreds of signal molecules operates in tandem with neurons and is the most information-rich source of emerging properties and adaptability. The major gap-dynamic, multifunctional chemical micro-environments in nervous systems-is not understood well. Thus, novel tools and information are needed to establish mechanistic links between orchestrated, yet cell-specific, volume transmission and behaviors. Uniting what we call chemoconnectomics and analyses of the cellular bases of behavior in basal metazoan lineages arguably would form the foundation for deciphering the origins and early evolution of elementary cognition and intelligence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid L Moroz
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, Saint Augustine, USA.
| | - Daria Y Romanova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS, Moscow, Russia
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17
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Najle SR, Grau-Bové X, Elek A, Navarrete C, Cianferoni D, Chiva C, Cañas-Armenteros D, Mallabiabarrena A, Kamm K, Sabidó E, Gruber-Vodicka H, Schierwater B, Serrano L, Sebé-Pedrós A. Stepwise emergence of the neuronal gene expression program in early animal evolution. Cell 2023; 186:4676-4693.e29. [PMID: 37729907 PMCID: PMC10580291 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
The assembly of the neuronal and other major cell type programs occurred early in animal evolution. We can reconstruct this process by studying non-bilaterians like placozoans. These small disc-shaped animals not only have nine morphologically described cell types and no neurons but also show coordinated behaviors triggered by peptide-secreting cells. We investigated possible neuronal affinities of these peptidergic cells using phylogenetics, chromatin profiling, and comparative single-cell genomics in four placozoans. We found conserved cell type expression programs across placozoans, including populations of transdifferentiating and cycling cells, suggestive of active cell type homeostasis. We also uncovered fourteen peptidergic cell types expressing neuronal-associated components like the pre-synaptic scaffold that derive from progenitor cells with neurogenesis signatures. In contrast, earlier-branching animals like sponges and ctenophores lacked this conserved expression. Our findings indicate that key neuronal developmental and effector gene modules evolved before the advent of cnidarian/bilaterian neurons in the context of paracrine cell signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián R Najle
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Grau-Bové
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anamaria Elek
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Navarrete
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Damiano Cianferoni
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Chiva
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Didac Cañas-Armenteros
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arrate Mallabiabarrena
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kai Kamm
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Eduard Sabidó
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Harald Gruber-Vodicka
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany; Zoological Institute, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Bernd Schierwater
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany; American Museum of Natural History, Richard Gilder Graduate School, NY, USA
| | - Luis Serrano
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arnau Sebé-Pedrós
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.
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18
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Beets I, Zels S, Vandewyer E, Demeulemeester J, Caers J, Baytemur E, Courtney A, Golinelli L, Hasakioğulları İ, Schafer WR, Vértes PE, Mirabeau O, Schoofs L. System-wide mapping of peptide-GPCR interactions in C. elegans. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113058. [PMID: 37656621 PMCID: PMC7615250 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides and peptide hormones are ancient, widespread signaling molecules that underpin almost all brain functions. They constitute a broad ligand-receptor network, mainly by binding to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, the organization of the peptidergic network and roles of many peptides remain elusive, as our insight into peptide-receptor interactions is limited and many peptide GPCRs are still orphan receptors. Here we report a genome-wide peptide-GPCR interaction map in Caenorhabditis elegans. By reverse pharmacology screening of over 55,384 possible interactions, we identify 461 cognate peptide-GPCR couples that uncover a broad signaling network with specific and complex combinatorial interactions encoded across and within single peptidergic genes. These interactions provide insights into peptide functions and evolution. Combining our dataset with phylogenetic analysis supports peptide-receptor co-evolution and conservation of at least 14 bilaterian peptidergic systems in C. elegans. This resource lays a foundation for system-wide analysis of the peptidergic network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Beets
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Sven Zels
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Jonas Demeulemeester
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; VIB - KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jelle Caers
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Esra Baytemur
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Amy Courtney
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | | | - William R Schafer
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Petra E Vértes
- Department of Psychiatry, Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Olivier Mirabeau
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Inserm U1224, Brain-Immune Communication Lab, 75015 Paris, France
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19
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Cong X, Liu H, Zheng Y, Chen M. A Putative Role of Vasopressin/Oxytocin-Type Neuropeptide in Osmoregulation and Feeding Inhibition of Apostichopus japonicus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14358. [PMID: 37762661 PMCID: PMC10532012 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Vasopressin/oxytocin (VP/OT)-type neuropeptide is an ancient neurophysin-associated neuropeptide and has been intensively studied to be involved in multiple physiological processes in protostomian and deuterostome vertebrates. However, little is known about the functions of VP/OT-type neuropeptide in deuterostome invertebrates especially in echinoderms. Here, we firstly report VP/OT-type neuropeptide signaling in an important economic species, Apostichopus japonicus, which is widely cultured in Asia, with high nutritional and medicinal values. Molecular characterization analysis of holotocin and its precursor revealed the highly conserved features of VP/OT family. The candidate receptor for holotocin (AjHOR) was confirmed to be able to activate the signaling via cAMP-PKA and possible Ca2+-PKC pathway, and further activated the downstream ERK1/2 cascade. Holotocin precursor expression profile showed that they were mainly concentrated in circumoral nerve ring. Furthermore, in vitro pharmacological experiments demonstrated that holotocin caused contractile responses in preparations from A. japonicus. And in vivo functional studies indicated that short-term injection of holotocin resulted in body bloat and long-term injection resulted in reduced body mass, suggesting potential roles of holotocin in osmoregulation and feeding co-inhibition with holotocin-CCK. Our findings provided a comprehensive description of AjHOR-holotocin signaling, revealed ancient roles of holotocin in osmoregulation and feeding inhibition by controlling muscle contractions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Muyan Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (X.C.); (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
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20
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Kim MA, Kim TH, Kannan P, Kho KH, Park K, Sohn YC. Functional Characterization of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone and Corazonin Signaling Systems in Pacific Abalone: Toward Reclassification of Invertebrate Neuropeptides. Neuroendocrinology 2023; 114:64-89. [PMID: 37703838 DOI: 10.1159/000533662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The proposed evolutionary origins and corresponding nomenclature of bilaterian gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-related neuropeptides have changed tremendously with the aid of receptor deorphanization. However, the reclassification of the GnRH and corazonin (CRZ) signaling systems in Lophotrochozoa remains unclear. METHODS We characterized GnRH and CRZ receptors in the mollusk Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai (Hdh), by phylogenetic and gene expression analyses, bioluminescence-based reporter, Western blotting, substitution of peptide amino acids, in vivo neuropeptide injection, and RNA interference assays. RESULTS Two Hdh CRZ-like receptors (Hdh-CRZR-A and Hdh-CRZR-B) and three Hdh GnRH-like receptors (Hdh-GnRHR1-A, Hdh-GnRHR1-B, and Hdh-GnRHR2) were identified. In phylogenetic analysis, Hdh-CRZR-A and -B grouped within the CRZ-type receptors, whereas Hdh-GnRHR1-A/-B and Hdh-GnRHR2 clustered within the GnRH/adipokinetic hormone (AKH)/CRZ-related peptide-type receptors. Hdh-CRZR-A/-B and Hdh-GnRHR1-A were activated by Hdh-CRZ (pQNYHFSNGWHA-NH2) and Hdh-GnRH (pQISFSPNWGT-NH2), respectively. Hdh-CRZR-A/-B dually coupled with the Gαq and Gαs signaling pathways, whereas Hdh-GnRHR1-A was linked only with Gαq signaling. Analysis of substituted peptides, [I2S3]Hdh-CRZ and [N2Y3H4]Hdh-GnRH, and in silico docking models revealed that the N-terminal amino acids of the peptides are critical for the selectivity of Hdh-CRZR and Hdh-GnRHR. Two precursor transcripts for Hdh-CRZ and Hdh-GnRH peptides and their receptors were mainly expressed in the neural ganglia, and their levels increased in starved abalones. Injection of Hdh-CRZ peptide into abalones decreased food consumption, whereas Hdh-CRZR knockdown increased food consumption. Moreover, Hdh-CRZ induced germinal vesicle breakdown in mature oocytes. CONCLUSION Characterization of Hdh-CRZRs and Hdh-GnRHRs and their cognate peptides provides new insight into the evolutionary route of GnRH-related signaling systems in bilaterians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Ae Kim
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
- East Coast Life Sciences Institute, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Ha Kim
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
| | - Priyadharshini Kannan
- Natural Product Informatics Research Center, KIST Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
| | - Kang Hee Kho
- Department of Fisheries Science, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, Republic of Korea
| | - Keunwan Park
- Natural Product Informatics Research Center, KIST Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Chang Sohn
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
- East Coast Life Sciences Institute, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
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21
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Andrade López JM, Pani AM, Wu M, Gerhart J, Lowe CJ. Molecular characterization of nervous system organization in the hemichordate acorn worm Saccoglossus kowalevskii. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002242. [PMID: 37725784 PMCID: PMC10508912 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemichordates are an important group for investigating the evolution of bilaterian nervous systems. As the closest chordate outgroup with a bilaterally symmetric adult body plan, hemichordates are particularly informative for exploring the origins of chordates. Despite the importance of hemichordate neuroanatomy for testing hypotheses on deuterostome and chordate evolution, adult hemichordate nervous systems have not been comprehensively described using molecular techniques, and classic histological descriptions disagree on basic aspects of nervous system organization. A molecular description of hemichordate nervous system organization is important for both anatomical comparisons across phyla and for attempts to understand how conserved gene regulatory programs for ectodermal patterning relate to morphological evolution in deep time. Here, we describe the basic organization of the adult hemichordate Saccoglossus kowalevskii nervous system using immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and transgenic reporters to visualize neurons, neuropil, and key neuronal cell types. Consistent with previous descriptions, we found the S. kowalevskii nervous system consists of a pervasive nerve plexus concentrated in the anterior, along with nerve cords on both the dorsal and ventral side. Neuronal cell types exhibited clear anteroposterior and dorsoventral regionalization in multiple areas of the body. We observed spatially demarcated expression patterns for many genes involved in synthesis or transport of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides but did not observe clear distinctions between putatively centralized and decentralized portions of the nervous system. The plexus shows regionalized structure and is consistent with the proboscis base as a major site for information processing rather than the dorsal nerve cord. In the trunk, there is a clear division of cell types between the dorsal and ventral cords, suggesting differences in function. The absence of neural processes crossing the basement membrane into muscle and extensive axonal varicosities suggest that volume transmission may play an important role in neural function. These data now facilitate more informed neural comparisons between hemichordates and other groups, contributing to broader debates on the origins and evolution of bilaterian nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M. Andrade López
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Ariel M. Pani
- Departments of Biology and Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, Unites States of America
| | - Mike Wu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, Unites States of America
| | - John Gerhart
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, Unites States of America
| | - Christopher J. Lowe
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
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22
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Koch TL, Torres JP, Baskin RP, Salcedo PF, Chase K, Olivera BM, Safavi-Hemami H. A toxin-based approach to neuropeptide and peptide hormone discovery. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1176662. [PMID: 37720554 PMCID: PMC10501145 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1176662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptide hormones and neuropeptides form a diverse class of bioactive secreted molecules that control essential processes in animals. Despite breakthroughs in peptide discovery, many signaling peptides remain undiscovered. Recently, we demonstrated the use of somatostatin-mimicking toxins from cone snails to identify the invertebrate ortholog of somatostatin. Here, we show that this toxin-based approach can be systematically applied to discover other unknown secretory peptides that are likely to have signaling function. Using large sequencing datasets, we searched for homologies between cone snail toxins and secreted proteins from the snails' prey. We identified and confirmed expression of five toxin families that share strong similarities with unknown secretory peptides from mollusks and annelids and in one case also from ecdysozoans. Based on several lines of evidence we propose that these peptides likely act as signaling peptides that serve important physiological functions. Indeed, we confirmed that one of the identified peptides belongs to the family of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone, a peptide not previously observed in Spiralia. We propose that this discovery pipeline can be broadly applied to other systems in which one organism has evolved molecules to manipulate the physiology of another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Lund Koch
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Joshua P. Torres
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robert P. Baskin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Paula Flórez Salcedo
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Kevin Chase
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Baldomero M. Olivera
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Helena Safavi-Hemami
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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23
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Kenis S, Istiban MN, Van Damme S, Vandewyer E, Watteyne J, Schoofs L, Beets I. Ancestral glycoprotein hormone-receptor pathway controls growth in C. elegans. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1200407. [PMID: 37409228 PMCID: PMC10319355 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1200407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In vertebrates, thyrostimulin is a highly conserved glycoprotein hormone that, besides thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), is a potent ligand of the TSH receptor. Thyrostimulin is considered the most ancestral glycoprotein hormone and orthologs of its subunits, GPA2 and GPB5, are widely conserved across vertebrate and invertebrate animals. Unlike TSH, however, the functions of the thyrostimulin neuroendocrine system remain largely unexplored. Here, we identify a functional thyrostimulin-like signaling system in Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that orthologs of GPA2 and GPB5, together with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) related neuropeptides, constitute a neuroendocrine pathway that promotes growth in C. elegans. GPA2/GPB5 signaling is required for normal body size and acts through activation of the glycoprotein hormone receptor ortholog FSHR-1. C. elegans GPA2 and GPB5 increase cAMP signaling by FSHR-1 in vitro. Both subunits are expressed in enteric neurons and promote growth by signaling to their receptor in glial cells and the intestine. Impaired GPA2/GPB5 signaling causes bloating of the intestinal lumen. In addition, mutants lacking thyrostimulin-like signaling show an increased defecation cycle period. Our study suggests that the thyrostimulin GPA2/GPB5 pathway is an ancient enteric neuroendocrine system that regulates intestinal function in ecdysozoans, and may ancestrally have been involved in the control of organismal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Kenis
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Majdulin Nabil Istiban
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sara Van Damme
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elke Vandewyer
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Watteyne
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Isabel Beets
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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24
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Wang HY, Yu K, Liu WJ, Jiang HM, Guo SQ, Xu JP, Li YD, Chen P, Ding XY, Fu P, Zhang YCF, Mei YS, Zhang G, Zhou HB, Jing J. Molecular Characterization of Two Wamide Neuropeptide Signaling Systems in Mollusk Aplysia. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37339428 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides with the C-terminal Wamide (Trp-NH2) are one of the last common ancestors of peptide families of eumetazoans and play various physiological roles. In this study, we sought to characterize the ancient Wamide peptides signaling systems in the marine mollusk Aplysia californica, i.e., APGWamide (APGWa) and myoinhibitory peptide (MIP)/Allatostatin B (AST-B) signaling systems. A common feature of protostome APGWa and MIP/AST-B peptides is the presence of a conserved Wamide motif in the C-terminus. Although orthologs of the APGWa and MIP signaling systems have been studied to various extents in annelids or other protostomes, no complete signaling systems have yet been characterized in mollusks. Here, through bioinformatics, molecular and cellular biology, we identified three receptors for APGWa, namely, APGWa-R1, APGWa-R2, and APGWa-R3. The EC50 values for APGWa-R1, APGWa-R2, and APGWa-R3 are 45, 2100, and 2600 nM, respectively. For the MIP signaling system, we predicted 13 forms of peptides, i.e., MIP1-13 that could be generated from the precursor identified in our study, with MIP5 (WKQMAVWa) having the largest number of copies (4 copies). Then, a complete MIP receptor (MIPR) was identified and the MIP1-13 peptides activated the MIPR in a dose-dependent manner, with EC50 values ranging from 40 to 3000 nM. Peptide analogs with alanine substitution experiments demonstrated that the Wamide motif at the C-terminus is necessary for receptor activity in both the APGWa and MIP systems. Moreover, cross-activity between the two signaling systems showed that MIP1, 4, 7, and 8 ligands could activate APGWa-R1 with a low potency (EC50 values: 2800-22,000 nM), which further supported that the APGWa and MIP signaling systems are somewhat related. In summary, our successful characterization of Aplysia APGWa and MIP signaling systems represents the first example in mollusks and provides an important basis for further functional studies in this and other protostome species. Moreover, this study may be useful for elucidating and clarifying the evolutionary relationship between the two Wamide signaling systems (i.e., APGWa and MIP systems) and their other extended neuropeptide signaling systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Ke Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Wei-Jia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Hui-Min Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Shi-Qi Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Ju-Ping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Ya-Dong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Ping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Xue-Ying Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Ping Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yan-Chu-Fei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yu-Shuo Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Guo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Hai-Bo Zhou
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen 518000, China
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jian Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
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25
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Oikawa I, Kondo S, Hashimoto K, Yoshida A, Hamajima M, Tanimoto H, Furukubo-Tokunaga K, Honjo K. A descending inhibitory mechanism of nociception mediated by an evolutionarily conserved neuropeptide system in Drosophila. eLife 2023; 12:RP85760. [PMID: 37310871 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Nociception is a neural process that animals have developed to avoid potentially tissue-damaging stimuli. While nociception is triggered in the peripheral nervous system, its modulation by the central nervous system is a critical process in mammals, whose dysfunction has been extensively implicated in chronic pain pathogenesis. The peripheral mechanisms of nociception are largely conserved across the animal kingdom. However, it is unclear whether the brain-mediated modulation is also conserved in non-mammalian species. Here, we show that Drosophila has a descending inhibitory mechanism of nociception from the brain, mediated by the neuropeptide Drosulfakinin (DSK), a homolog of cholecystokinin (CCK) that plays an important role in the descending control of nociception in mammals. We found that mutants lacking dsk or its receptors are hypersensitive to noxious heat. Through a combination of genetic, behavioral, histological, and Ca2+ imaging analyses, we subsequently revealed neurons involved in DSK-mediated nociceptive regulation at a single-cell resolution and identified a DSKergic descending neuronal pathway that inhibits nociception. This study provides the first evidence for a descending modulatory mechanism of nociception from the brain in a non-mammalian species that is mediated by the evolutionarily conserved CCK system, raising the possibility that the descending inhibition is an ancient mechanism to regulate nociception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izumi Oikawa
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shu Kondo
- Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kao Hashimoto
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Akiho Yoshida
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Megumi Hamajima
- Center for Development of Advanced Medicine for Dementia, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Hiromu Tanimoto
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Ken Honjo
- Center for Development of Advanced Medicine for Dementia, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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26
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Gao H, Li Y, Zhang H, Wang S, Feng F, Tang J, Li B. Comparative study of neuropeptide signaling systems in Hemiptera. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:705-724. [PMID: 36165207 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Numerous physiological processes in insects are tightly regulated by neuropeptides and their receptors. Although they form an ancient signaling system, there is still a great deal of variety in neuropeptides and their receptors among different species within the same order. Neuropeptides and their receptors have been documented in many hemipteran insects, but the differences among them have been poorly characterized. Commercial grapevines worldwide are plagued by the bug Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha). Here, 33 neuropeptide precursors and 48 putative neuropeptide G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) genes were identified in D. vitifoliae. Their expression profiles at the probe and feeding stages reflected potential regulatory roles in probe behavior. By comparison, we found that the Releasing Hormone-Related Peptides (GnRHs) system of Sternorrhyncha was differentiated from those of the other 2 suborders in Hemiptera. Independent secondary losses of the adipokinetic hormone/corazonin-related peptide receptor (ACP) and corazonin (CRZ) occurred during the evolution of Sternorrhyncha. Additionally, we discovered that the neuropeptide signaling systems of Sternorrhyncha were very different from those of Heteroptera and Auchenorrhyncha, which was consistent with Sternorrhyncha's phylogenetic position at the base of the order. This research provides more knowledge on neuropeptide systems and sets the groundwork for the creation of novel D. vitifoliae management strategies that specifically target these signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Gao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanxiao Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Suisui Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fan Feng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bin Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
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27
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Fu P, Mei YS, Liu WJ, Chen P, Jin QC, Guo SQ, Wang HY, Xu JP, Zhang YCF, Ding XY, Liu CP, Liu CY, Mao RT, Zhang G, Jing J. Identification of three elevenin receptors and roles of elevenin disulfide bond and residues in receptor activation in Aplysia californica. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7662. [PMID: 37169790 PMCID: PMC10175484 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34596-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides are ubiquitous intercellular signaling molecules in the CNS and play diverse roles in modulating physiological functions by acting on specific G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Among them, the elevenin signaling system is now believed to be present primarily in protostomes. Although elevenin was first identified from the L11 neuron of the abdominal ganglion in mollusc Aplysia californica, no receptors have been described in Aplysia, nor in any other molluscs. Here, using two elevenin receptors in annelid Platynereis dumerilii, we found three putative elevenin GPCRs in Aplysia. We cloned the three receptors and tentatively named them apElevR1, apElevR2, and apElevR3. Using an inositol monophosphate (IP1) accumulation assay, we demonstrated that Aplysia elevenin with the disulfide bond activated the three putative receptors with low EC50 values (ranging from 1.2 to 25 nM), supporting that they are true receptors for elevenin. In contrast, elevenin without the disulfide bond could not activate the receptors, indicating that the disulfide bond is required for receptor activity. Using alanine substitution of individual conserved residues other than the two cysteines, we showed that these residues appear to be critical to receptor activity, and the three different receptors had different sensitivities to the single residue substitution. Finally, we examined the roles of those residues outside the disulfide bond ring by removing these residues and found that they also appeared to be important to receptor activity. Thus, our study provides an important basis for further study of the functions of elevenin and its receptors in Aplysia and other molluscs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu-Shuo Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei-Jia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qing-Chun Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shi-Qi Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui-Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ju-Ping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan-Chu-Fei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue-Ying Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cui-Ping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cheng-Yi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui-Ting Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jian Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Psychology and Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Institute for Brain Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Extracellular RNA, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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Hawkins RD, Brodin L, Theodorsson E, Végvári Á, Kandel ER, Hokfelt T. Distribution, cellular localization, and colocalization of several peptide neurotransmitters in the central nervous system of Aplysia. Learn Mem 2023; 30:116-123. [PMID: 37442624 PMCID: PMC10353257 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053758.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Neuropeptides are widely used as neurotransmitters in vertebrates and invertebrates. In vertebrates, a detailed understanding of their functions as transmitters has been hampered by the complexity of the nervous system. The marine mollusk Aplysia, with a simpler nervous system and many large, identified neurons, presents several advantages for addressing this question and has been used to examine the roles of tens of peptides in behavior. To screen for other peptides that might also play roles in behavior, we observed immunoreactivity in individual neurons in the central nervous system of adult Aplysia with antisera raised against the Aplysia peptide FMRFamide and two mammalian peptides that are also found in Aplysia, cholecystokinin (CCK) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), as well as serotonin (5HT). In addition, we observed staining of individual neurons with antisera raised against mammalian somatostatin (SOM) and peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI). However, genomic analysis has shown that these two peptides are not expressed in the Aplysia nervous system, and we have therefore labeled the unknown peptides stained by these two antibodies as XSOM and XPHI There was an area at the anterior end of the cerebral ganglion that had staining by antisera raised against many different transmitters, suggesting that this may be a modulatory region of the nervous system. There was also staining for XSOM and, in some cases, FMRFamide in the bag cell cluster of the abdominal ganglion. In addition, these and other studies have revealed a fairly high degree of colocalization of different neuropeptides in individual neurons, suggesting that the peptides do not just act independently but can also interact in different combinations to produce complex functions. The simple nervous system of Aplysia is advantageous for further testing these ideas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Hawkins
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Lennart Brodin
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm S-17177, Sweden
| | - Elvar Theodorsson
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Linköping University, Linköping S-58185, Sweden
| | - Ákos Végvári
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm S-17177, Sweden
| | - Eric R Kandel
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Tomas Hokfelt
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm S-17177, Sweden
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29
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Thoma V, Sakai S, Nagata K, Ishii Y, Maruyama S, Abe A, Kondo S, Kawata M, Hamada S, Deguchi R, Tanimoto H. On the origin of appetite: GLWamide in jellyfish represents an ancestral satiety neuropeptide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221493120. [PMID: 37011192 PMCID: PMC10104569 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221493120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Food intake is regulated by internal state. This function is mediated by hormones and neuropeptides, which are best characterized in popular model species. However, the evolutionary origins of such feeding-regulating neuropeptides are poorly understood. We used the jellyfish Cladonema to address this question. Our combined transcriptomic, behavioral, and anatomical approaches identified GLWamide as a feeding-suppressing peptide that selectively inhibits tentacle contraction in this jellyfish. In the fruit fly Drosophila, myoinhibitory peptide (MIP) is a related satiety peptide. Surprisingly, we found that GLWamide and MIP were fully interchangeable in these evolutionarily distant species for feeding suppression. Our results suggest that the satiety signaling systems of diverse animals share an ancient origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimiros Thoma
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai980-8577, Japan
- Department of Biology, Miyagi University of Education, Aoba-ku, Sendai980-0845, Japan
| | - Shuhei Sakai
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai980-8577, Japan
| | - Koki Nagata
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai980-8577, Japan
| | - Yuu Ishii
- Department of Biology, Miyagi University of Education, Aoba-ku, Sendai980-0845, Japan
- Department of Ecological Developmental Adaptability Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aobaku, Sendai980-8578, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Maruyama
- Department of Ecological Developmental Adaptability Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aobaku, Sendai980-8578, Japan
- Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo112-8610, Japan
| | - Ayako Abe
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai980-8577, Japan
| | - Shu Kondo
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo125-8585, Japan
- Invertebrate Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka411-8540, Japan
| | - Masakado Kawata
- Department of Ecological Developmental Adaptability Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aobaku, Sendai980-8578, Japan
| | - Shun Hamada
- Department of Food and Health Sciences, International College of Arts and Sciences, Fukuoka Women’s University, Fukuoka813-8529, Japan
| | - Ryusaku Deguchi
- Department of Biology, Miyagi University of Education, Aoba-ku, Sendai980-0845, Japan
| | - Hiromu Tanimoto
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai980-8577, Japan
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30
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Satake H. Kobayashi Award 2021: Neuropeptides, receptors, and follicle development in the ascidian, Ciona intestinalis Type A: New clues to the evolution of chordate neuropeptidergic systems from biological niches. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 337:114262. [PMID: 36925021 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Ciona intestinalis Type A (Ciona robusta) is a cosmopolitan species belonging to the phylum Urochordata, invertebrate chordates that are phylogenetically the most closely related to the vertebrates. Therefore, this species is of interest for investigation of the evolution and comparative physiology of endocrine, neuroendocrine, and nervous systems in chordates. Our group has identified>30 Ciona neuropeptides (80% of all identified ascidian neuropeptides) primarily using peptidomic approaches combined with reference to genome sequences. These neuropeptides are classified into two groups: homologs or prototypes of vertebrate neuropeptides and novel (Ciona-specific) neuropeptides. We have also identified the cognate receptors for these peptides. In particular, we elucidated multiple receptors for Ciona-specific neuropeptides by a combination of a novel machine learning system and experimental validation of the specific interaction of the predicted neuropeptide-receptor pairs, and verified unprecedented phylogenies of receptors for neuropeptides. Moreover, several neuropeptides were found to play major roles in the regulation of ovarian follicle development. Ciona tachykinin facilitates the growth of vitellogenic follicles via up-regulation of the enzymatic activities of proteases. Ciona vasopressin stimulates oocyte maturation and ovulation via up-regulation of maturation-promoting factor- and matrix metalloproteinase-directed collagen degradation, respectively. Ciona cholecystokinin also triggers ovulation via up-regulation of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and the subsequent activation of matrix metalloproteinase. These studies revealed that the neuropeptidergic system plays major roles in ovarian follicle growth, maturation, and ovulation in Ciona, thus paving the way for investigation of the biological roles for neuropeptides in the endocrine, neuroendocrine, nervous systems of Ciona, and studies of the evolutionary processes of various neuropeptidergic systems in chordates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honoo Satake
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan.
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31
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Yussif BM, Blasing CV, Checco JW. Endogenous l- to d-amino acid residue isomerization modulates selectivity between distinct neuropeptide receptor family members. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2217604120. [PMID: 36877849 PMCID: PMC10089201 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2217604120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The l- to d-amino acid residue isomerization of neuropeptides is an understudied post-translational modification found in animals across several phyla. Despite its physiological importance, little information is available regarding the impact of endogenous peptide isomerization on receptor recognition and activation. As a result, the full roles peptide isomerization play in biology are not well understood. Here, we identify that the Aplysia allatotropin-related peptide (ATRP) signaling system utilizes l- to d-residue isomerization of one amino acid residue in the neuropeptide ligand to modulate selectivity between two distinct G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We first identified a novel receptor for ATRP that is selective for the D2-ATRP form, which bears a single d-phenylalanine residue at position 2. Using cell-based receptor activation experiments, we then characterized the stereoselectivity of the two known ATRP receptors for both endogenous ATRP diastereomers, as well as for homologous toxin peptides from a carnivorous predator. We found that the ATRP system displayed dual signaling through both the Gαq and Gαs pathways, and each receptor was selectively activated by one naturally occurring ligand diastereomer over the other. Overall, our results provide insights into an unexplored mechanism by which nature regulates intercellular communication. Given the challenges in detecting l- to d-residue isomerization from complex mixtures de novo and in identifying receptors for novel neuropeptides, it is likely that other neuropeptide-receptor systems may also utilize changes in stereochemistry to modulate receptor selectivity in a manner similar to that discovered here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baba M. Yussif
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE68588
| | - Cole V. Blasing
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE68588
| | - James W. Checco
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE68588
- The Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE68588
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32
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Okamoto N, Fujinaga D, Yamanaka N. Steroid hormone signaling: What we can learn from insect models. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2023; 123:525-554. [PMID: 37717997 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Ecdysteroids are a group of steroid hormones in arthropods with pleiotropic functions throughout their life history. Ecdysteroid research in insects has made a significant contribution to our current understanding of steroid hormone signaling in metazoans, but how far can we extrapolate our findings in insects to other systems, such as mammals? In this chapter, we compare steroid hormone signaling in insects and mammals from multiple perspectives and discuss similarities and differences between the two lineages. We also highlight a few understudied areas and remaining questions of steroid hormone biology in metazoans and propose potential future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Okamoto
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Daiki Fujinaga
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Naoki Yamanaka
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States.
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33
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Kumar L, Brenner N, Sledzieski S, Olaosebikan M, Roger LM, Lynn-Goin M, Klein-Seetharaman R, Berger B, Putnam H, Yang J, Lewinski NA, Singh R, Daniels NM, Cowen L, Klein-Seetharaman J. Transfer of knowledge from model organisms to evolutionarily distant non-model organisms: The coral Pocillopora damicornis membrane signaling receptome. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0270965. [PMID: 36735673 PMCID: PMC9897584 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
With the ease of gene sequencing and the technology available to study and manipulate non-model organisms, the extension of the methodological toolbox required to translate our understanding of model organisms to non-model organisms has become an urgent problem. For example, mining of large coral and their symbiont sequence data is a challenge, but also provides an opportunity for understanding functionality and evolution of these and other non-model organisms. Much more information than for any other eukaryotic species is available for humans, especially related to signal transduction and diseases. However, the coral cnidarian host and human have diverged over 700 million years ago and homologies between proteins in the two species are therefore often in the gray zone, or at least often undetectable with traditional BLAST searches. We introduce a two-stage approach to identifying putative coral homologues of human proteins. First, through remote homology detection using Hidden Markov Models, we identify candidate human homologues in the cnidarian genome. However, for many proteins, the human genome alone contains multiple family members with similar or even more divergence in sequence. In the second stage, therefore, we filter the remote homology results based on the functional and structural plausibility of each coral candidate, shortlisting the coral proteins likely to have conserved some of the functions of the human proteins. We demonstrate our approach with a pipeline for mapping membrane receptors in humans to membrane receptors in corals, with specific focus on the stony coral, P. damicornis. More than 1000 human membrane receptors mapped to 335 coral receptors, including 151 G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). To validate specific sub-families, we chose opsin proteins, representative GPCRs that confer light sensitivity, and Toll-like receptors, representative non-GPCRs, which function in the immune response, and their ability to communicate with microorganisms. Through detailed structure-function analysis of their ligand-binding pockets and downstream signaling cascades, we selected those candidate remote homologues likely to carry out related functions in the corals. This pipeline may prove generally useful for other non-model organisms, such as to support the growing field of synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokender Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States of America
| | - Nathanael Brenner
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States of America
| | - Samuel Sledzieski
- MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Monsurat Olaosebikan
- Department of Computer Science, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States of America
| | - Liza M. Roger
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| | - Matthew Lynn-Goin
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States of America
| | | | - Bonnie Berger
- MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Hollie Putnam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, South Kingstown, RI, United States of America
| | - Jinkyu Yang
- Department of Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Nastassja A. Lewinski
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| | - Rohit Singh
- MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Noah M. Daniels
- Department of Computer Science and Statistics, University of Rhode Island, South Kingstown, RI, United States of America
| | - Lenore Cowen
- Department of Computer Science, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States of America
| | - Judith Klein-Seetharaman
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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34
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Satake H, Osugi T, Shiraishi A. Impact of Machine Learning-Associated Research Strategies on the Identification of Peptide-Receptor Interactions in the Post-Omics Era. Neuroendocrinology 2023; 113:251-261. [PMID: 34348315 DOI: 10.1159/000518572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Elucidation of peptide-receptor pairs is a prerequisite for many studies in the neuroendocrine, endocrine, and neuroscience fields. Recent omics analyses have provided vast amounts of peptide and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) sequence data. GPCRs for homologous peptides are easily characterized based on homology searching, and the relevant peptide-GPCR interactions are also detected by typical signaling assays. In contrast, conventional evaluation or prediction methods, including high-throughput reverse-pharmacological assays and tertiary structure-based computational analyses, are not useful for identifying interactions between novel and omics-derived peptides and GPCRs. SUMMARY Recently, an approach combining machine learning-based prediction of novel peptide-GPCR pairs and experimental validation of the predicted pairs have been shown to breakthrough this bottleneck. A machine learning method, logistic regression for human class A GPCRs and the multiple subsequent signaling assays led to the deorphanization of human class A orphan GPCRs, namely, the identification of 18 peptide-GPCR pairs. Furthermore, using another machine learning algorithm, the support vector machine (SVM), the peptide descriptor-incorporated SVM was originally developed and employed to predict GPCRs for novel peptides characterized from the closest relative of vertebrates, Ciona intestinalis Type A (Ciona robusta). Experimental validation of the predicted pairs eventually led to the identification of 11 novel peptide-GPCR pairs. Of particular interest is that these newly identified GPCRs displayed neither significant sequence similarity nor molecular phylogenetic relatedness to known GPCRs for peptides. KEY MESSAGES These recent studies highlight the usefulness and versatility of machine learning for enabling the efficient, reliable, and systematic identification of novel peptide-GPCR interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honoo Satake
- Division of Integrative Biomolecular Function, Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Osugi
- Division of Integrative Biomolecular Function, Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akira Shiraishi
- Division of Integrative Biomolecular Function, Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
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35
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Farris SM. Insect PRXamides: Evolutionary Divergence, Novelty, and Loss in a Conserved Neuropeptide System. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2023; 23:3. [PMID: 36661324 PMCID: PMC9853942 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieac079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The PRXamide neuropeptides have been described in both protostome and deuterostome species, including all major groups of the Panarthropoda. Best studied are the insect PRXamides consisting of three genes: pk/pban, capa, and eth, each encoding multiple short peptides that are cleaved post-translationally. Comparisons of genome and transcriptome sequences reveal that while retaining its fundamental ancestral organization, the products of the pk/pban gene have undergone significant change in the insect Order Diptera. Basal dipteran pk/pban genes are much like those of other holometabolous insects, while more crown species have lost two peptide coding sequences including the otherwise ubiquitous pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN). In the genomic model species Drosophila melanogaster, one of the remaining peptides (hugin) plays a potentially novel role in feeding and locomotor regulation tied to circadian rhythms. Comparison of peptide coding sequences of pk/pban across the Diptera pinpoints the acquisition or loss of the hugin and PBAN peptide sequences respectively, and provides clues to associated changes in life history, physiology, and/or behavior. Interestingly, the neural circuitry underlying pk/pban function is highly conserved across the insects regardless of the composition of the pk/pban gene. The rapid evolution and diversification of the Diptera provide many instances of adaptive novelties from genes to behavior that can be placed in the context of emerging selective pressures at key points in their phylogeny; further study of changing functional roles of pk/pban may then be facilitated by the high-resolution genetic tools available in Drosophila melanogaster.
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36
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Tinoco AB, Egertová M, Elphick MR. Immunohistochemical localisation of vasopressin/oxytocin-type, corazonin-type and luqin-type neuropeptide expression in the starfish Asterias rubens using antibodies to the C-terminal region of precursor proteins. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 391:441-456. [PMID: 36653662 PMCID: PMC9974683 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-023-03738-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Neuropeptides derived from larger precursor proteins are secreted as signalling molecules by neurons and regulate diverse physiological and behavioural processes in animals. Recently, we reported the discovery of ArCRZ (HNTFTMGGQNRWKAG-NH2) and ArLQ (EEKTRFPKFMRW-NH2)-novel neuropeptides in the starfish Asterias rubens that are orthologs of arthropod corazonins and molluscan luqins, respectively. However, our efforts to generate antibodies to ArCRZ and ArLQ have been unsuccessful, precluding immunohistochemical analysis of their expression. Here, we investigated an alternative experimental approach for neuropeptide immunohistochemistry by generating antibodies to peptides corresponding to the C-terminal region of the precursor proteins. As proof of principle, we generated antibodies to the C-terminal region of the precursor of the vasopressin/oxytocin-type neuropeptide asterotocin and show that these reveal immunostaining in A. rubens that is very similar to that observed with asterotocin antibodies. Furthermore, antibodies to the C-terminal region of the ArCRZ precursor (ArCRZP) and the ArLQ precursor (ArLQP) produced patterns of immunostaining consistent, respectively, with the distribution of ArCRZP and ArLQP transcripts revealed by mRNA in situ hybridisation. Detailed immunohistochemical analysis revealed widespread expression of ArCRZP and ArLQP in A. rubens, including the central nervous system, digestive system and the body wall and its associated appendages (e.g. tube feet), providing a neuroanatomical framework for investigation and interpretation of the pharmacological actions of ArCRZ and ArLQ in A. rubens. Furthermore, our findings provide a basis for use of antibodies to the C-terminal region of neuropeptide precursor proteins in other species where the production of antibodies to the bioactive neuropeptides is unsuccessful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B Tinoco
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Michaela Egertová
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Maurice R Elphick
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK.
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37
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Aleotti A, Wilkie IC, Yañez-Guerra LA, Gattoni G, Rahman TA, Wademan RF, Ahmad Z, Ivanova DA, Semmens DC, Delroisse J, Cai W, Odekunle E, Egertová M, Ferrario C, Sugni M, Bonasoro F, Elphick MR. Discovery and functional characterization of neuropeptides in crinoid echinoderms. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1006594. [PMID: 36583101 PMCID: PMC9793003 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1006594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides are one of the largest and most diverse families of signaling molecules in animals and, accordingly, they regulate many physiological processes and behaviors. Genome and transcriptome sequencing has enabled the identification of genes encoding neuropeptide precursor proteins in species from a growing variety of taxa, including bilaterian and non-bilaterian animals. Of particular interest are deuterostome invertebrates such as the phylum Echinodermata, which occupies a phylogenetic position that has facilitated reconstruction of the evolution of neuropeptide signaling systems in Bilateria. However, our knowledge of neuropeptide signaling in echinoderms is largely based on bioinformatic and experimental analysis of eleutherozoans-Asterozoa (starfish and brittle stars) and Echinozoa (sea urchins and sea cucumbers). Little is known about neuropeptide signaling in crinoids (feather stars and sea lilies), which are a sister clade to the Eleutherozoa. Therefore, we have analyzed transcriptome/genome sequence data from three feather star species, Anneissia japonica, Antedon mediterranea, and Florometra serratissima, to produce the first comprehensive identification of neuropeptide precursors in crinoids. These include representatives of bilaterian neuropeptide precursor families and several predicted crinoid neuropeptide precursors. Using A. mediterranea as an experimental model, we have investigated the expression of selected neuropeptides in larvae (doliolaria), post-metamorphic pentacrinoids and adults, providing new insights into the cellular architecture of crinoid nervous systems. Thus, using mRNA in situ hybridization F-type SALMFamide precursor transcripts were revealed in a previously undescribed population of peptidergic cells located dorso-laterally in doliolaria. Furthermore, using immunohistochemistry a calcitonin-type neuropeptide was revealed in the aboral nerve center, circumoral nerve ring and oral tube feet in pentacrinoids and in the ectoneural and entoneural compartments of the nervous system in adults. Moreover, functional analysis of a vasopressin/oxytocin-type neuropeptide (crinotocin), which is expressed in the brachial nerve of the arms in A. mediterranea, revealed that this peptide causes a dose-dependent change in the mechanical behavior of arm preparations in vitro-the first reported biological action of a neuropeptide in a crinoid. In conclusion, our findings provide new perspectives on neuropeptide signaling in echinoderms and the foundations for further exploration of neuropeptide expression/function in crinoids as a sister clade to eleutherozoan echinoderms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Aleotti
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Iain C. Wilkie
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Luis A. Yañez-Guerra
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giacomo Gattoni
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tahshin A. Rahman
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard F. Wademan
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zakaryya Ahmad
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deyana A. Ivanova
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dean C. Semmens
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jérôme Delroisse
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Weigang Cai
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Esther Odekunle
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michaela Egertová
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cinzia Ferrario
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Sugni
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Bonasoro
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurice R. Elphick
- School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Maurice R. Elphick,
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Preusser F, Neuschulz A, Junker JP, Rajewsky N, Preibisch S. Long-term imaging reveals behavioral plasticity during C. elegans dauer exit. BMC Biol 2022; 20:277. [PMID: 36514066 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01471-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During their lifetime, animals must adapt their behavior to survive in changing environments. This ability requires the nervous system to undergo adjustments at distinct temporal scales, from short-term dynamic changes in expression of neurotransmitters and receptors to longer-term growth, spatial and connectivity reorganization, while integrating external stimuli. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans provides a model of nervous system plasticity, in particular its dauer exit decision. Under unfavorable conditions, larvae will enter the non-feeding and non-reproductive stress-resistant dauer stage and adapt their behavior to cope with the harsh new environment, with active reversal under improved conditions leading to resumption of reproductive development. However, how different environmental stimuli regulate the exit decision mechanism and thereby drive the larva's behavioral change is unknown. To fill this gap and provide insights on behavioral changes over extended periods of time, we developed a new open hardware method for long-term imaging (12h) of C. elegans larvae. RESULTS Our WormObserver platform comprises open hardware and software components for video acquisition, automated processing of large image data (> 80k images/experiment) and data analysis. We identified dauer-specific behavioral motifs and characterized the behavioral trajectory of dauer exit in different environments and genetic backgrounds to identify key decision points and stimuli promoting dauer exit. Combining long-term behavioral imaging with transcriptomics data, we find that bacterial ingestion triggers a change in neuropeptide gene expression to establish post-dauer behavior. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, we show how a developing nervous system can robustly integrate environmental changes activate a developmental switch and adapt the organism's behavior to a new environment. WormObserver is generally applicable to other research questions within and beyond the C. elegans field, having a modular and customizable character and allowing assessment of behavioral plasticity over longer periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friedrich Preusser
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 10115, Berlin, Germany. .,Institute for Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10099, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Anika Neuschulz
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 10115, Berlin, Germany.,Institute for Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10099, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Philipp Junker
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Rajewsky
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Preibisch
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, 20147, USA.
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Gadenne MJ, Hardege I, Yemini E, Suleski D, Jaggers P, Beets I, Schafer WR, Chew YL. Neuropeptide signalling shapes feeding and reproductive behaviours in male Caenorhabditis elegans. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/10/e202201420. [PMID: 35738805 PMCID: PMC9233197 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
LURY-1 peptides are expressed in distinct cells in different sexes and have sex-specific effects on feeding and mating, providing further evidence for the role of neuromodulators in sexual dimorphism. Sexual dimorphism occurs where different sexes of the same species display differences in characteristics not limited to reproduction. For the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, in which the complete neuroanatomy has been solved for both hermaphrodites and males, sexually dimorphic features have been observed both in terms of the number of neurons and in synaptic connectivity. In addition, male behaviours, such as food-leaving to prioritise searching for mates, have been attributed to neuropeptides released from sex-shared or sex-specific neurons. In this study, we show that the lury-1 neuropeptide gene shows a sexually dimorphic expression pattern; being expressed in pharyngeal neurons in both sexes but displaying additional expression in tail neurons only in the male. We also show that lury-1 mutant animals show sex differences in feeding behaviours, with pharyngeal pumping elevated in hermaphrodites but reduced in males. LURY-1 also modulates male mating efficiency, influencing motor events during contact with a hermaphrodite. Our findings indicate sex-specific roles of this peptide in feeding and reproduction in C. elegans, providing further insight into neuromodulatory control of sexually dimorphic behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Gadenne
- Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Iris Hardege
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Eviatar Yemini
- Department of Neurobiology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Djordji Suleski
- Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Paris Jaggers
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Isabel Beets
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - William R Schafer
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yee Lian Chew
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute and College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
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Hayakawa E, Guzman C, Horiguchi O, Kawano C, Shiraishi A, Mohri K, Lin MF, Nakamura R, Nakamura R, Kawai E, Komoto S, Jokura K, Shiba K, Shigenobu S, Satake H, Inaba K, Watanabe H. Mass spectrometry of short peptides reveals common features of metazoan peptidergic neurons. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1438-1448. [PMID: 35941202 PMCID: PMC9525235 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01835-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionary origins of neurons remain unknown. Although recent genome data of extant early-branching animals have shown that neural genes existed in the common ancestor of animals, the physiological and genetic properties of neurons in the early evolutionary phase are still unclear. Here, we performed a mass spectrometry-based comprehensive survey of short peptides from early-branching lineages Cnidaria, Porifera and Ctenophora. We identified a number of mature ctenophore neuropeptides that are expressed in neurons associated with sensory, muscular and digestive systems. The ctenophore peptides are stored in vesicles in cell bodies and neurites, suggesting volume transmission similar to that of cnidarian and bilaterian peptidergic systems. A comparison of genetic characteristics revealed that the peptide-expressing cells of Cnidaria and Ctenophora express the vast majority of genes that have pivotal roles in maturation, secretion and degradation of neuropeptides in Bilateria. Functional analysis of neuropeptides and prediction of receptors with machine learning demonstrated peptide regulation of a wide range of target effector cells, including cells of muscular systems. The striking parallels between the peptidergic neuronal properties of Cnidaria and Bilateria and those of Ctenophora, the most basal neuron-bearing animals, suggest a common evolutionary origin of metazoan peptidergic nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eisuke Hayakawa
- Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan.
| | - Christine Guzman
- Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Osamu Horiguchi
- Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Chihiro Kawano
- Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Akira Shiraishi
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kurato Mohri
- Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Mei-Fang Lin
- Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
- College of Marine Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ryotaro Nakamura
- Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakamura
- Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Erina Kawai
- Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
- Marine Climate Change Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Shinya Komoto
- Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
- Imaging Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Kei Jokura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shizuoka, Japan
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Kogiku Shiba
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Shuji Shigenobu
- Center for the Development of New Model Organisms, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Honoo Satake
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazuo Inaba
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Watanabe
- Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan.
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Dvořáček J, Kodrík D. Drug effect and addiction research with insects - From Drosophila to collective reward in honeybees. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 140:104816. [PMID: 35940307 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Animals and humans share similar reactions to the effects of addictive substances, including those of their brain networks to drugs. Our review focuses on simple invertebrate models, particularly the honeybee (Apis mellifera), and on the effects of drugs on bee behaviour and brain functions. The drug effects in bees are very similar to those described in humans. Furthermore, the honeybee community is a superorganism in which many collective functions outperform the simple sum of individual functions. The distribution of reward functions in this superorganism is unique - although sublimated at the individual level, community reward functions are of higher quality. This phenomenon of collective reward may be extrapolated to other animal species living in close and strictly organised societies, i.e. humans. The relationship between sociality and reward, based on use of similar parts of the neural network (social decision-making network in mammals, mushroom body in bees), suggests a functional continuum of reward and sociality in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Dvořáček
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budĕjovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budĕjovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Dalibor Kodrík
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budĕjovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budĕjovice, Czech Republic
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42
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Li C, Zheng Y, Cong X, Liu H, Storey KB, Chen M. Molecular and functional characterization of the luqin-type neuropeptide signaling system in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. Peptides 2022; 155:170839. [PMID: 35839946 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2022.170839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The functional characteristics of neuropeptides in marine invertebrates have attracted significant attention recently although functional studies of luqin-type neuropeptides are still very limited, especially in deuterostomes. The sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, is a representative species of deuterostomian Holothurian invertebrates. The species has high nutritional and medicinal value in China. In this study, we report the first comprehensive histological, biochemical and pharmacological characterization of luqin-type neuropeptide signaling in the sea cucumber A. japonicus. The A. japonicus luqin-like neuropeptide precursor (AjLQP) contains a single typical deuterostomian luqin-like neuropeptide AjLQ with an xFxRWamide motif. AjLQ was identified as the ligand for a luqin-type neuropeptide receptor AjLQR, that was previously predicted to be a tachykinin-type receptor, and triggers a rapid intracellular mobilization of Ca2+, followed by receptor internalization and a transient increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR analysis revealed extensive expression of AjLQP and AjLQ in A. japonicus tissues, especially in locomotion-related organs. In vitro pharmacological tests revealed that AjLQ caused 12.69% ± 1.99% (p < 0.01) relaxation of longitudinal muscle preparations at 10-7 M concentration. Furthermore, we observed significantly increased expression of AjLQP (about 17.63 fold, p < 0.01) in intestine of deeply aestivating sea cucumbers, which suggests that AjLQ might be involved in feeding inhibition during aestivation. The present study provides a first insight into the experimental characterization of luqin-type neuropeptide signaling in a sea cucumber. The results will broaden our understanding of the potential function of neuropeptides during important biological processes in marine invertebrates and provide theoretical support for optimizing sea cucumber aquaculture technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyi Li
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Yingqiu Zheng
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Xiao Cong
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Huachen Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Kenneth B Storey
- Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Muyan Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China.
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AI protein structure prediction-based modeling and mutagenesis of a protostome receptor and peptide ligands reveal key residues for their interaction. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102440. [PMID: 36049520 PMCID: PMC9562341 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The protostome leucokinin (LK) signaling system, including LK peptides and their G protein-coupled receptors, has been characterized in several species. Despite progress in this area, molecular mechanisms governing LK peptide-receptor interactions remain to be elucidated. Previously, we identified a precursor protein for Aplysia leucokinin-like peptides (ALKs) that contains the greatest number of amidated peptides among LK precursors in all species identified so far. Here, we identified the first ALK receptor from Aplysia, ALKR. We used cell-based IP1 activation assays to demonstrate that the two ALK peptides with the most copies, ALK1 and ALK2, activated ALKR with high potencies. Other endogenous ALK-derived peptides bearing the FXXWX-amide motif also activated ALKR to various degrees. Our examination of cross-species activity of ALKs with the Anopheles LKR was consistent with a critical role for the FXXWX-amide motif in receptor activity. Furthermore, we showed, through alanine substitution of ALK1, the highly conserved phenylalanine (F), tryptophan (W), and C-terminal amidation were each essential for receptor activation. Finally, we used an AI-based protein structure prediction server (Robetta) and Autodock Vina to predict the ligand-bound conformation of ALKR. Our model predicted several interactions (i.e., hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds, and amide-pi stacking) between ALK peptides and ALKR, and several of our substitution and mutagenesis experiments were consistent with the predicted model. In conclusion, our results provide important information defining the possible interactions between ALK peptides and their receptors. The workflow utilized here may be useful for studying other ligand-receptor interactions for a neuropeptide signaling system, particularly in protostomes.
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Escudero Castelán N, Semmens DC, Guerra LAY, Zandawala M, Dos Reis M, Slade SE, Scrivens JH, Zampronio CG, Jones AM, Mirabeau O, Elphick MR. Receptor deorphanization in an echinoderm reveals kisspeptin evolution and relationship with SALMFamide neuropeptides. BMC Biol 2022; 20:187. [PMID: 36002813 PMCID: PMC9400282 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01387-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kisspeptins are neuropeptides that regulate reproductive maturation in mammals via G-protein-coupled receptor-mediated stimulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion from the hypothalamus. Phylogenetic analysis of kisspeptin-type receptors indicates that this neuropeptide signaling system originated in a common ancestor of the Bilateria, but little is known about kisspeptin signaling in invertebrates. RESULTS Contrasting with the occurrence of a single kisspeptin receptor in mammalian species, here, we report the discovery of an expanded family of eleven kisspeptin-type receptors in a deuterostome invertebrate - the starfish Asterias rubens (phylum Echinodermata). Furthermore, neuropeptides derived from four precursor proteins were identified as ligands for six of these receptors. One or more kisspeptin-like neuropeptides derived from two precursor proteins (ArKPP1, ArKPP2) act as ligands for four A. rubens kisspeptin-type receptors (ArKPR1,3,8,9). Furthermore, a family of neuropeptides that act as muscle relaxants in echinoderms (SALMFamides) are ligands for two A. rubens kisspeptin-type receptors (ArKPR6,7). The SALMFamide neuropeptide S1 (or ArS1.4) and a 'cocktail' of the seven neuropeptides derived from the S1 precursor protein (ArS1.1-ArS1.7) act as ligands for ArKPR7. The SALMFamide neuropeptide S2 (or ArS2.3) and a 'cocktail' of the eight neuropeptides derived from the S2 precursor protein (ArS2.1-ArS2.8) act as ligands for ArKPR6. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal a remarkable diversity of neuropeptides that act as ligands for kisspeptin-type receptors in starfish and provide important new insights into the evolution of kisspeptin signaling. Furthermore, the discovery of the hitherto unknown relationship of kisspeptins with SALMFamides, neuropeptides that were discovered in starfish prior to the identification of kisspeptins in mammals, presents a radical change in perspective for research on kisspeptin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayeli Escudero Castelán
- Queen Mary University of London, School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Dean C Semmens
- Queen Mary University of London, School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Present address: Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education, St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Luis Alfonso Yañez Guerra
- Queen Mary University of London, School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Present Address: Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Meet Zandawala
- Queen Mary University of London, School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Present Address: Neurobiology and Genetics, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mario Dos Reis
- Queen Mary University of London, School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Susan E Slade
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Present address: Waters Corporation, Stamford Avenue, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, SK9 4AX, UK
| | - James H Scrivens
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Present address: School of Science, Engineering & Design, Stephenson Street, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BX, TS1 3BA, Tees Valley, UK
| | | | - Alexandra M Jones
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Olivier Mirabeau
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Maurice R Elphick
- Queen Mary University of London, School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, London, E1 4NS, UK.
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Abstract
Modulation of nociception allows animals to optimize chances of survival by adapting their behaviour in different contexts. In mammals, this is executed by neurons from the brain and is referred to as the descending control of nociception. Whether insects have such control, or the neural circuits allowing it, has rarely been explored. Based on behavioural, neuroscientific and molecular evidence, we argue that insects probably have descending controls for nociception. Behavioural work shows that insects can modulate nocifensive behaviour. Such modulation is at least in part controlled by the central nervous system since the information mediating such prioritization is processed by the brain. Central nervous system control of nociception is further supported by neuroanatomical and neurobiological evidence showing that the insect brain can facilitate or suppress nocifensive behaviour, and by molecular studies revealing pathways involved in the inhibition of nocifensive behaviour both peripherally and centrally. Insects lack the endogenous opioid peptides and their receptors that contribute to mammalian descending nociception controls, so we discuss likely alternative molecular mechanisms for the insect descending nociception controls. We discuss what the existence of descending control of nociception in insects may reveal about pain perception in insects and finally consider the ethical implications of these novel findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda Gibbons
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Sajedeh Sarlak
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, 31587-77871, Karaj, Iran
| | - Lars Chittka
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
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Nässel DR, Zandawala M. Endocrine cybernetics: neuropeptides as molecular switches in behavioural decisions. Open Biol 2022; 12:220174. [PMID: 35892199 PMCID: PMC9326288 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasticity in animal behaviour relies on the ability to integrate external and internal cues from the changing environment and hence modulate activity in synaptic circuits of the brain. This context-dependent neuromodulation is largely based on non-synaptic signalling with neuropeptides. Here, we describe select peptidergic systems in the Drosophila brain that act at different levels of a hierarchy to modulate behaviour and associated physiology. These systems modulate circuits in brain regions, such as the central complex and the mushroom bodies, which supervise specific behaviours. At the top level of the hierarchy there are small numbers of large peptidergic neurons that arborize widely in multiple areas of the brain to orchestrate or modulate global activity in a state and context-dependent manner. At the bottom level local peptidergic neurons provide executive neuromodulation of sensory gain and intrinsically in restricted parts of specific neuronal circuits. The orchestrating neurons receive interoceptive signals that mediate energy and sleep homeostasis, metabolic state and circadian timing, as well as external cues that affect food search, aggression or mating. Some of these cues can be triggers of conflicting behaviours such as mating versus aggression, or sleep versus feeding, and peptidergic neurons participate in circuits, enabling behaviour choices and switches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dick R. Nässel
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Meet Zandawala
- Neurobiology and Genetics, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland Würzburg 97074, Germany
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Wegener C, Chen J. Allatostatin A Signalling: Progress and New Challenges From a Paradigmatic Pleiotropic Invertebrate Neuropeptide Family. Front Physiol 2022; 13:920529. [PMID: 35812311 PMCID: PMC9263205 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.920529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides have gained broad attraction in insect neuroscience and physiology, as new genetic tools are increasingly uncovering their wide-ranging pleiotropic functions with high cellular resolution. Allatostatin A (AstA) peptides constitute one of the best studied insect neuropeptide families. In insects and other panarthropods, AstA peptides qualify as brain-gut peptides and have regained attention with the discovery of their role in regulating feeding, growth, activity/sleep and learning. AstA receptor homologs are found throughout the protostomia and group with vertebrate somatostatin/galanin/kisspeptin receptors. In this review, we summarise the current knowledge on the evolution and the pleiotropic and cell-specific non-allatostatic functions of AstA. We speculate about the core functions of AstA signalling, and derive open questions and challengesfor future research on AstA and invertebrate neuropeptides in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Wegener
- Neurobiology and Genetics, Würzburg Insect Research, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Christian Wegener,
| | - Jiangtian Chen
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
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Preza M, Van Bael S, Temmerman L, Guarnaschelli I, Castillo E, Koziol U. Global analysis of neuropeptides in cestodes identifies Attachin, a SIFamide homolog, as a stimulant of parasite motility and attachment. J Neurochem 2022; 162:467-482. [PMID: 35689626 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Many anthelmintics target the neuromuscular system, in particular by interfering with signaling mediated by classical neurotransmitters. Although peptidergic signaling has been proposed as a novel target for anthelmintics, current knowledge of the neuropeptide complement of many helminth groups is still limited, especially for parasitic flatworms (cestodes, trematodes, and monogeneans). In this work, we have characterized the neuropeptide complement of the model cestode Hymenolepis microstoma. Peptidomic characterization of adults of H. microstoma validated many of the neuropeptide precursor (npp) genes previously predicted in silico, and identified novel neuropeptides that are conserved in parasitic flatworms. Most neuropeptides from parasitic flatworms lack significant similarity to those from other animals, confirming the uniqueness of their peptidergic signaling. Analysis of gene expression of ten npp genes by in situ hybridization confirmed that all of them are expressed in the nervous system and identified cryptic features, including the first evidence of dorsoventral asymmetry, as well as a new population of peripheral peptidergic cells that appears to be conserved in the trematode Schistosoma mansoni. Finally, we characterized in greater detail Attachin, an SIFamide homolog. Although its expression is largely restricted to the longitudinal nerve cords and cerebral commissure in H. microstoma, it shows widespread localization in the larval nervous system of Echinococcus multilocularis and Mesocestoides corti. Exogenous addition of a peptide corresponding to the highly conserved C-terminus of Attachin stimulated motility and attachment of M. corti larvae. Altogether, this work provides a robust experimental foothold for the characterization of peptidergic signaling in parasitic flatworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Preza
- Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Sven Van Bael
- Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Temmerman
- Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inés Guarnaschelli
- Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Estela Castillo
- Laboratorio de Biología Parasitaria, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Uriel Koziol
- Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Yoon S, Kim MA, Lee JS, Sohn YC. Functional analysis of LFRFamide signaling in Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267039. [PMID: 35511902 PMCID: PMC9071130 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The invertebrate LFRFamide (LFRFa) and short neuropeptide F (sNPF), consisting of 6 to 10 amino acids, are orthologs for bilaterian NPF/Y, which consist of 36 to 40 amino acids. Recently, a molluscan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) for NPF was characterized in Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai). To address the functional evolutionary route of the invertebrate LFRFa and NPF signaling system, in this study, we identified cDNAs encoding LFRFa precursors and the sNPF receptor (Hdh-sNPFR) in Pacific abalone. Four LFRFa mature peptides with 6 or 7 amino acids were predicted: GSLFRFa, GGLFRFa, GTLFRFa, and GSTLFRFa. Hdh-sNPFR was identified as a classical rhodopsin-like GPCR and classified into a molluscan sNPFR group. In HEK293 cells, Hdh-sNPFR was mainly localized in the cell membranes and internalized in the cytoplasm following treatment with LFRFa peptides. Reporter assays demonstrated that LFRFa peptides inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in Hdh-sNPFR-expressing HEK293 cells. LFRFa precursor and Hdh-sNPFR transcripts were more strongly expressed in the cerebral and pleural-pedal ganglia of Pacific abalone than in the peripheral tissues such as the ovary, gills, intestine, and hepatopancreas. The levels of LFRFa transcripts in the ovary, intestine, and hepatopancreas were significantly higher in mature female abalone than in immature females. Injection of LFRFa induced the egg release and spawning behavior of mature abalone, but suppressed food intake. These results suggest that LFRFa peptides are endogenous ligands for Hdh-sNPFR involved in food intake and reproduction through a Gαi-protein dependent signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungwoo Yoon
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Ae Kim
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
- East Coast Life Sciences Institute, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Sick Lee
- Department of Aqualife Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Chang Sohn
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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Zhang G, Guo SQ, Yin SY, Yuan WD, Chen P, Kim JI, Wang HY, Zhou HB, Susswein AJ, Kaang BK, Jing J. Exogenous expression of an allatotropin-related peptide receptor increased the membrane excitability in Aplysia neurons. Mol Brain 2022; 15:42. [PMID: 35534865 PMCID: PMC9082908 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-022-00929-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides act mostly on a class of G-protein coupled receptors, and play a fundamental role in the functions of neural circuits underlying behaviors. However, physiological functions of some neuropeptide receptors are poorly understood. Here, we used the molluscan model system Aplysia and microinjected the exogenous neuropeptide receptor apATRPR (Aplysia allatotropin-related peptide receptor) with an expression vector (pNEX3) into Aplysia neurons that did not express the receptor endogenously. Physiological experiments demonstrated that apATRPR could mediate the excitability increase induced by its ligand, apATRP (Aplysia allatotropin-related peptide), in the Aplysia neurons that now express the receptor. This study provides a definitive evidence for a physiological function of a neuropeptide receptor in molluscan animals.
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