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A "Dual-Addition" Calcium Fluorescence Assay for the High-Throughput Screening of Recombinant G Protein-Coupled Receptors
Published on: December 2, 2022
The CCK(-like) receptor in the animal kingdom: functions, evolution and structures
Dorien Staljanssens1, Elnaz Karimian Azari, Olivier Christiaens
1Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Peptides
|December 21, 2010
Summary
This review compares cholecystokinin (CCK)-like receptors across the animal kingdom, revealing evolutionary links and structural similarities. Understanding these receptors aids in developing new human health treatments and pest control strategies.
Area of Science:
- Comparative molecular biology
- Evolutionary biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors are crucial G-protein coupled receptors in vertebrates, regulating functions like satiety, digestion, and cognitive processes.
- Homologs, including CK receptors in nematodes and sulfakinin (SK) receptors in arthropods, suggest an ancient evolutionary origin.
- SK receptors show closer relation to CCK receptors and similar physiological roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare CCK(-like) receptors across diverse animal species.
- To investigate the evolutionary basis and molecular structures of these receptors.
- To explore the potential applications of understanding ligand-receptor interactions.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of physiological functions, evolutionary origins, and molecular structures.
- Development of a 3D molecular model for the CCK receptor type 1.
- Docking simulations of natural ligands for CCK and SK receptors into the CCK receptor type 1 model.
Main Results:
- CCK(-like) receptors are conserved across vertebrates, nematodes, and arthropods, originating from a common ancestor.
- Sulfakinin (SK) receptors are evolutionarily closer to CCK receptors and share functional similarities.
- Molecular modeling provides insights into ligand-receptor interactions within the CCK receptor type 1.
Conclusions:
- The study elucidates the evolutionary trajectory and structural conservation of CCK(-like) receptors.
- Molecular models offer a platform for designing novel agonists and antagonists.
- These findings have implications for human therapeutic development and pest control applications.
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