Atrial natriuretic factor-like peptide and its prohormone within single cell organisms
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Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Nitropeptide Profiling and Identification Illustrated by Angiotensin II
Published on: June 16, 2019
1Department of Medicine, University of South Florida Health Sciences Center, Tampa 33612.
Abstract:
The present investigation was designed to determine if the atrial natriuretic peptide hormonal system is present within single cell organisms. Paramecium multimicronucleatum were examined with 3 sensitive and specific radioimmunoassays which recognize the N-terminus [amino acids 1-98; proANF(1-98)], the midportion of the N-terminus [amino acids 31-67; proANF(31-67)] and C-terminus (amino acids 99-126; ANF) of the 126 amino acid atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) prohormone. ProANF(1-98), proANF(31-67), and ANF-like peptides were all present within these unicellular organisms at concentrations of 460 +/- 19 pg/ml, 420 +/- 15 pg/ml, and 14.5 +/- 2 pg/ml, respectively. These concentrations are similar to their respective concentrations in the plasma of the rat (Rattus norvegicus). These results suggest that even single cell organisms contain the atrial natriuretic peptide-like hormonal system.
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