Publication
Title
Discovery of a cholecystokinin-gastrin-like signaling system in nematodes
Author
Abstract
Members of the cholecystokinin (CCK)/gastrin family of peptides, including the arthropod sulfakinins, and their cognate receptors, play an important role in the regulation of feeding behavior and energy homeostasis. Despite many efforts after the discovery of CCK/gastrin immunoreactivity in nematodes 23 yr ago, the identity of these nematode CCK/gastrin-related peptides has remained a mystery ever since. The Caenorhabditis elegans genome contains two genes with high identity to the mammalian CCK receptors and their invertebrate counterparts, the sulfakinin receptors. By using the potential C. elegans CCK receptors as a fishing hook, we have isolated and identified two CCK-like neuropeptides encoded by neuropeptide-like protein- 12 (nlp-12) as the endogenous ligands of these receptors. The neuropeptide-like protein- 12 peptides have a very limited neuronal expression pattern, seem to occur in vivo in the unsulfated form, and react specifically with a human CCK-8 antibody. Both receptors and ligands share a high degree of structural similarity with their vertebrate and arthropod counterparts, and also display similar biological activities with respect to digestive enzyme secretion and fat storage. Our data indicate that the gastrin-CCK signaling system was already well established before the divergence of protostomes and deuterostomes.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Endocrinology / Endocrine Society. - Philadelphia, Pa, 1917, currens
Publication
Philadelphia, Pa : 2008
ISSN
0013-7227 [print]
1945-7170 [online]
DOI
10.1210/EN.2007-1772
Volume/pages
149 :6 (2008) , p. 2826-2839
ISI
000256053100020
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 11.03.2013
Last edited 20.08.2024
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