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A neuropeptide precursor expressed in Aplysia neuron L5
DNA (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)
|June 1, 1986
Summary
Neuron L5 in Aplysia abdominal ganglia expresses a novel peptide ending in Arg-Phe-amide, confirmed by cDNA sequencing. This finding clarifies the source of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in these neurons.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Aplysia abdominal ganglion neuron L5 exhibits immunoreactivity to Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-amide (FMRFamide) antiserum.
- The specificity of the FMRFamide antiserum is limited to the Arg-Phe-amide sequence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the specific peptide(s) responsible for FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in Aplysia neuron L5.
- To investigate the molecular basis of peptide expression in L5 neurons.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of cDNA clones from L5-specific mRNAs.
- Nucleotide sequencing of isolated cDNA clones.
- Hybridization analysis to compare with known FMRFamide genes.
Main Results:
- Isolated cDNA clones did not hybridize to the known FMRFamide gene.
- Sequencing of clone L5-67 revealed a Gly-Lys-Arg cleavage site after Arg-Phe.
- The sequence predicts a peptide ending in Arg-Phe-amide, consistent with observed immunoreactivity.
Conclusions:
- Aplysia neuron L5 expresses a peptide distinct from FMRFamide but sharing the Arg-Phe-amide C-terminus.
- This novel peptide accounts for the observed FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in L5 neurons.