Peptides protein-coupled receptors

The family of apelin peptides is derived from a single gene, activate a single G-protein-coupled receptor and are substrates for the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). Apelins regulate cardiovascular function and fluid homeostasis. The apelin receptor also functions as a co-receptor for infection of CD4-positive cells by human immunodeficiency vims ( HIV). 

Apelin receptors activate several signalling pathways including coupling through inhibitory G-proteins (G ) and Ras-independent activation of extracellular-regulated kinases (ERKs) via protein kinase C (PKC). The apelin receptor is one of number of G-protein-coupled receptors that can act as an alternative coreceptor for entry into cells of HIV and simian immunodeficiency vims (SIV) strains in human U87 cells expressing CD4 in vitro. Apelin peptides blocks entry of HIV but display different potencies, with apelin-36 being more effective than shorter sequences [3]. 

Pituitary Adenylyl Cyclase-activating Polypeptide (PACAP) is a 38-amino acid peptide (PACAP-38), which is widely expressed in the central nervous system. PACAP is most abundant in the hypothalamus. It is also found in the gastrointestinal tract, the adrenal gland and in testis. Its central nervous system functions are ill-defined. In the periphery, PACAP has been shown to stimulate catecholamine secretion from the adrenal medulla and to regulate secretion from the pancreas. Three G-protein coupled receptors have been shown to respond to PACAP, PAQ (PACAP type I) specifically binds PACAP, VPACi and VPAC2 also bind vasoactive intestinal peptide (VDP). Activation of PACAP receptors results in a Gs-mediated activation of adenylyl cyclase. 

Somatostatin is a regulatory cyclic peptide, which has originally been described as a hypothalamic growth hormone release-inhibiting factor. It is produced throughout the central nervous system (CNS) as well as in secretoty cells of the periphery and mediates its regulatory functions on cellular processes such as neurotransmission, smooth muscle contraction, secretion and cell proliferation via a family of seven transmembrane domain G-protein-coupled receptors termed sstx 5. 

Lavrador K, Murphy B, Saunders J, Struthers S, Wang X, Williams J. A screening library for peptide activated G-protein coupled receptors. 1. The test set. J Med Ghent 2004 47 6864-74. 

By far the most studied family of the G-protein-coupled receptors are the rhodopsin-like receptors. These are also the largest group of receptors in number as they include receptors not only for the monoamines, nucleotides, neuropeptides and peptide hormones, but they also include the odorant receptors which number several hundreds of related receptors. These receptors have short N-termini, a conserved disulphide bridge between the TM2-TM3 and TM4—TM5 extracellular domains, and variable-length C-termini. In some cases the C-terminus is myristolyated which by tying the C-terminus to the cell membrane generates a fourth intracellular loop. 

Receptors for a series of peptide hormones and neuropeptides constitute a separate family of G-protein-coupled receptors often called family B, members of which are devoid of the classical... 

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a recently discovered bioactive peptide that has emerged as a new signaling molecule in the complex circuitry that modulates sleep-wakefulness and anxiety-like behavior. The peptide precursor is expressed most prominently in a novel nucleus located in the perilocus coeruleus, a brain structure with well-defined functions in arousal, stress, and anxiety. NPS was also found to induce anxiolytic-like behavior in a battery of four different tests of innate responses to stress. Infusion of NPS potently increases wakefulness and suppresses non-REM (NREM) and REM sleep (Xu et al, 2004). NPS binds to a G-protein-coupled receptor, the NPS receptor, with nanomolar affinity activation of the receptor mobilizes intracellular calcium. The NPS receptor is expressed throughout the brain, particularly in regions relevant to the modulation of sleep and waking, in the tuberomammillary region, lateral hypothalamus, and medial thalamic nuclei. 

Most neuropeptide receptors are seven-transmembrane-domain, G-protein-coupled receptors 326 Neuropeptide receptors are not confined to synaptic regions 327 Expressions of peptide receptors and the corresponding peptides are not well matched 327... 

The family of heterotrimeric G proteins is involved in transmembrane signaling in the nervous system, with certain exceptions. The exceptions are instances of synaptic transmission mediated via receptors that contain intrinsic enzymatic activity, such as tyrosine kinase or guanylyl cyclase, or via receptors that form ion channels (see Ch. 10). Heterotrimeric G proteins were first identified, named and characterized by Alfred Gilman, Martin Rodbell and others close to 20 years ago. They consist of three distinct subunits, a, (3 and y. These proteins couple the activation of diverse types of plasmalemma receptor to a variety of intracellular processes. In fact, most types of neurotransmitter and peptide hormone receptor, as well as many cytokine and chemokine receptors, fall into a superfamily of structurally related molecules, termed G-protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are named for the role of G proteins in mediating the varied biological effects of the receptors (see Ch. 10). Consequently, numerous effector proteins are influenced by these heterotrimeric G proteins ion channels adenylyl cyclase phosphodiesterase (PDE) phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids to yield arachidonic acid. In addition, these G proteins have been implicated in... 

Membrane-associated receptors are linked to transducing proteins (like G-proteins) in the inner portion of the membrane. G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) families comprise a major class of the receptors that are pharmacologically relevant, such as muscarinic acetyl choline receptors, adrenoceptors, dopamine receptors, serotonine, opiate, peptide hormone, purinerg receptors, and also sensory chemoreceptors. A large variety of subtypes are described in the pharmacological literature. 

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