Characterization of the short neuropeptide F receptor from **Drosophila melanogaster**

Mertens, Inge; Meeusen, Tom; Huybrechts, Roger; De Loof, Arnold; Schoofs, Liliane

doi:10.1016/S0006-291X(02)02351-3

Title

Characterization of the short neuropeptide F receptor from **Drosophila melanogaster**

Author

Mertens, Inge

Meeusen, Tom

Huybrechts, Roger

De Loof, Arnold

Schoofs, Liliane

Abstract

A seven transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor has been cloned from Drosophila melanogaster. This receptor shows structural similarities to vertebrate Neuropeptide Y2 receptors and is activated by endogenous Drosophila peptides, recently designated as short neuropeptide Fs (sNPFs). sNPFs have so far been found in neuroendocrine tissues of four other insect species and of the horseshoe crab. In locusts, they accelerate ovarian maturation, and in mosquitoes, they inhibit host-seeking behavior. Expression analysis by RT-PCR shows that the sNPF receptor (Drm-sNPF-R) is present in several tissues (brain, gut, Malpighian tubules and fat body) from Drosophila larvae as well as in ovaries of adult females. All 4 Drosophila sNPFs clearly elicited a calcium response in receptor expressing mammalian Chinese hamster ovary cells. The response is dose-dependent and appeared to be very specific. The short NPF receptor was not activated by any of the other tested arthropod peptides, not even by FMRFamide-related peptides (also ending in RFamide), indicating that the Arg residue at position 4 from the amidated C-terminus appears to be crucial for the response elicited by the sNPFs.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Biochemical and biophysical research communications. - New York, N.Y.

Publication

New York, N.Y. : 2002

ISSN

0006-291X

DOI

10.1016/S0006-291X(02)02351-3

Volume/pages

297 :5 (2002) , p. 1140-1148