Structure and Bioactivity of Neuropeptide F from the Human Parasites Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum
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The Department of Biomedical Sciences aims to provide knowledge of anatomy and physiology in order to understand the mechanisms and treatment of animal diseases. Additionally, it seeks to teach the understanding of drug-action for rational drug-therapy, as well as toxicology, pharmacodynamics, and clinical drug administration.
History
The Department of Biomedical Sciences was formed in 1999 as a merger of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology.
Dates of Existence
1999–present
Related Units
- College of Veterinary Medicine (parent college)
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy (predecessor, 1997)
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology (predecessor, 1997)
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Abstract
The blood flukes Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicuminflict immense suffering as agents of human schistosomiasis. Previous investigations have found the nervous systems of these worms contain abundant immunoreactivity to antisera targeting invertebrate neuropeptide Fs (NPFs) as well as structurally similar neuropeptides of the mammalian neuropeptide Y (NPY) family. Here, cDNAs encoding NPF in these worms were identified, and the mature neuropeptides from the two species differed by only a single amino acid. Both neuropeptides feature the characteristics common among NPFs; they are 36 amino acids long with a carboxyl-terminal Gly-Arg-X-Arg-Phe-amide and Tyr residues at positions 10 and 17 from the carboxyl terminus. Synthetic S. mansoni NPF potently inhibits the forskolin-stimulated accumulation of cAMP in worm homogenates, with significant effects at 10-11 M. This is the first demonstration of an endogenous inhibition of cAMP by an NPF, and because this is the predominant pathway associated with vertebrate NPY family peptides, it demonstrates a conservation of downstream signaling pathways used by NPFs and NPY peptides.
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This research was originally published in The Journal of Biological Chemistry. Judith E. Humphries, Michael J. Kimber, Yi-Wen Barton, Walter Hsu, Nikki J. Marks, Brett Greer, Pat Harriott, Aaron G. Maule and Tim A. Day. Structure and Bioactivity of Neuropeptide F from the Human Parasites Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2004; 279:39880–39885. © the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.