Proteolytic processing of a peptide precursor in Aplysia neuron R14.

Neuropeptides are a complex set of messenger molecules controlling a wide array of regulatory functions and behaviors within an organism. These neuromodulators are cleaved from longer protein molecules and often experience numerous post-translational modifications to achieve their bioactive form. As a result of this complexity, sensitive and versatile analysis schemes are needed to characterize neuropeptides. Mass spectrometry (MS) through a variety of approaches has fueled the discovery of hundreds of neuropeptides in invertebrate species in the last decade. Particularly successful are direct tissue and single neuron analyses by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS, which has been used to elucidate approximately 440 neuropeptides, and examination of neuronal homogenates by electrospray ionization techniques (ESI), also leading to the characterization of over 450 peptides. Additional MS methods with great promise for the discovery of neuropeptides are MS imaging and large-scale peptidomics studies in combination with a sequenced genome.

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Discovering new invertebrate neuropeptides using mass spectrometry

Hummon

Amare

Sweedler

2005

Mass Spectrometry Reviews

154

145

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Neural control of the circulatory system ofAplysia

Koester

Koch

1987

Experientia

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Distribution of the Aplysia cardioexcitatory peptide, NdWFamide, in the central and peripheral nervous systems of Aplysia

et al. 2003

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NdWFamide is an Aplysia cardioexcitatory tripeptide containing D-tryptophan. To investigate the roles of this peptide, we examined the immunohistochemical distribution of NdWFamide-positive neurons in Aplysia tissues. All the ganglia of the central nervous system (CNS) contained NdWFamide-positive neurons. In particular, two left upper quadrant cells in the abdominal ganglion, and the anterior cells in the pleural ganglion showed extensive positive signals. NdWFamide-positive processes were observed in peripheral tissues, such as those of the cardio-vascular system, digestive tract, and sex-accessory organs, and in the connectives or neuropils in the CNS. NdWFamide-positive neurons were abundant in peripheral plexuses, such as the stomatogastric ring. To examine the NdWFamide contents of tissues, we fractionated peptidic extracts from the respective tissues by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography and then assayed the fractions by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A fraction corresponding to the retention time of synthetic NdWFamide contained the most immunoreactivity, indicating that the tissues contained NdWFamide. The prevalence of the NdWFamide content was roughly in the order: abdominal ganglion >heart >gill >blood vessels >digestive tract. In most of the tissues containing NdWFamide-positive nerves, Nd-WFamide modulated the motile activities of the tissues. Thus, NdWFamide seems to be a versatile neurotransmitter/modulator of Aplysia and probably regulates the physiological activities of this animal.

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Proteolytic processing of a peptide precursor in Aplysia neuron R14.

Cited by 12 publications

References 38 publications

Discovering new invertebrate neuropeptides using mass spectrometry

Discovering new invertebrate neuropeptides using mass spectrometry

Neural control of the circulatory system ofAplysia

Distribution of the Aplysia cardioexcitatory peptide, NdWFamide, in the central and peripheral nervous systems of Aplysia

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