Novel Neurotransmitters

A 17 amino acid long peptide sequentially related to opioid peptides in particular dynorphin A. OFQ/N is inactive at the 5, k, and p opioid receptors, but binds to its own NOP receptor (formerly ORL-1, for opioid receptor like-1). In contrast to opioid peptides, OFQ/N has no direct analgesic properties. OFQ/N is the first example for the discovery of a novel neurotransmitter from tissue extracts by using an orphan receptor as bait. Centrally administered in rodents, OFQ/N exerts anxiolytic properties. OFQ/N agonists and antagonists... 

Kennedy, C, Todorov, LD, Mihaylova-Todorova, S and Sneddon, P (1997) Release of soluble nucleotidases a novel mechanism for neurotransmitter inactivation. Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 18 263-266. 

Recently, it has been appreciated that some of these growth factors serve a much wider role. For example, nerve growth factor has been shown to acutely regulate aspects of neurotransmitter synthesis and release, as well as mediating both synaptic plasticity and the stabilization of synaptic contacts. It is likely that in subsequent years we will discover additional novel actions of these molecules. 

Schloss, R, Mayser, W and Betz, H. (1992) Neurotransmitter transporters. A novel family of integral plasma membrane proteins. FEBS Lett. 307,76-78. 

Snyder, S.H., and Ferris, C.D. (2000) Novel neurotransmitters and their neuropsychiatric relevance. Am Psychiatry 157 1738-1751. 

T. Katsuragi, T. Furukawa (1985). Novel, selective purinoceptor antagonists investigation of ATP as a neurotransmitter. Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 6 337-339. 

---