Metabolic neuropeptides

Dyn is not yet known, it is likely that such changes reflect variations in the activity of the associated pathways. One possible explanation is that increases in neuropeptide tissue levels are due to decreased release of the transmitter, which dunmishes the extracellular peptide metabolism and results in accumulation of these peptide substances. Another possible contributing factor is a drug-related alteration in neuropeptide synthesis. For example, Bannon et al. (1987) reported that METH administration increased the quantity of striatal messenger RNA for the SP precursor preprotachykinin. Thus, increases in peptide synthesis might contribute to increases in peptide content caused by treatment with METH or the other amphetamine analogs. 

Abstract Pheromones are utilized by many insects in a complex chemical communication system. This review will look at the biosynthesis of sex and aggregation pheromones in the model insects, moths, flies, cockroaches, and beetles. The biosynthetic pathways involve altered pathways of normal metabolism of fatty acids and isoprenoids. Endocrine regulation of the biosynthetic pathways will also be reviewed for the model insects. A neuropeptide named pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide regulates sex pheromone biosynthesis in moths. Juvenile hormone regulates pheromone production in the beetles and cockroaches, while 20-hydroxyecdysone regulates pheromone production in the flies. 

To add to the complexity discussed above, the metabolism of neuropeptide precursors is tissue-specific, with a... 

A wide array of growth factors, proinflammatory molecules, including cytokines, prostanoids, and neuropeptides, contributes to the manifestation of inflammatory, neuro-degenerative, and metabolic consequences, including increased risk for triggering cell death pathways (Fig. 17.3). 

The literature contains numerous references to the use of MS/MS in the determination of new neuropeptides in identified cells of invertebrates (Bulau et al., 2004, for a recent example) and this technique is now being applied to in situ analysis of vertebrate tissues (Fournier et al., 2003). MS/MS is also used for studies of neuropeptide processing (Nilsson et al., 2001), pharmacokinetics of synthetic peptides (Mock et al., 2002), nonpeptide drug metabolism (Kamel et al., 2003), identification of peptides purified by immunoaffinity (Suresh Babu et al., 2004), and MALDI/MS/MS techniques adaptable to brain dialysis (Bogan and Agnes, 2004). 

A calpain inhibitor, the DPK of N-dimethyltyrosine, was isolated from Streptomyces griseus and this compound showed activity in the calpain assay as described by Alvarez etal Calpain is a cytosolic protease regulated by calcium and is distributed in mammalian and avian cells. Calpain catalyzes proteolysis of target protein in cells, causing changes in metabolic processes such as the activation of protein kinase C, neuropeptide metabolism, and the activation of platelets. It is proposed that these inhibitors can be used in the treatment of neurodegen-erative diseases. 

Hydrophilic hormones and other water-soluble signaling substances have a variety of biosynthetic pathways. Amino acid derivatives arise in special metabolic pathways (see p. 352) or through post-translational modification (see p. 374). Proteohormones, like all proteins, result from translation in the ribosome (see p. 250). Small peptide hormones and neuropeptides, most of which only consist of 3-30 amino acids, are released from precursor proteins by proteolytic degradation. 

Sheehan M, de Belleroche J Facilitation of GABA release by cholecystokinin and caerulein in rat cerebral cortex. Neuropeptides 3 429-434, 1983 Sherman AD, Petty F Additivity of neurochemical changes in learned helplessness and imipramine. Behav Neural Biol 35 344-353, 1982 Sherman WR Lithium and the phosphoinositide signaling system, in Lithium and the Cell. Edited by Birch NJ. London, Academic Press, 1991, pp 121-157 Sherman WR, Munsell LY, Gish BG, et al Effects of systemically administered lithium on phosphoinositide metabolism in rat brain, kidney, and testis. J Neurochem 44 798-807, 1985... 

D. R. Lynch, S. H. Snyder (1986). Neuropeptides multiple molecular forms, metabolic pathways, and receptors. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 55 773-799. 

Participation as a cofactor in an number of enzymatic reactions, including the synthesis of collagen, carnitine, and norepinephrine the metabolism of tryptophan, tyrosine, histamine, and cholesterol the amidation of neuropeptides and detoxification reactions in the liver... 

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