Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Prodynorphin in invertebrates

M Salzet1, G Stefano

  • 1Laboratoire de Phylogénie Moléculaire des Annélides EA DRED 1027, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, France. salzet@pop.univ-lille1.fr

Brain Research. Molecular Brain Research
|February 5, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Researchers identified and characterized a prodynorphin-like molecule in the leech Theromyzon tessulatum. This invertebrate prodynorphin shares structural similarities with mammalian counterparts but has a shorter N-terminus.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Unraveling the protein kinase C/NDRG1 signaling network in breast cancer.

Cell & bioscience·2024
Same author

Proteomic characterisation of leech microglia extracellular vesicles (EVs): comparison between differential ultracentrifugation and Optiprep™ density gradient isolation.

Journal of extracellular vesicles·2019
Same author

Real time and in vivo pharmaceutical and environmental studies with SpiderMass instrument.

Journal of biotechnology·2018
Same author

[Immunological aspects of ovarian cancer: Therapeutic perspectives].

Journal de gynecologie, obstetrique et biologie de la reproduction·2016
Same author

The proprotein convertase PC1/3 regulates TLR9 trafficking and the associated signaling pathways.

Scientific reports·2016
Same author

Delivery of Alginate Scaffold Releasing Two Trophic Factors for Spinal Cord Injury Repair.

Scientific reports·2015

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Prodynorphin is a key precursor for opioid peptides in vertebrates.
  • Understanding prodynorphin evolution requires studying its presence in diverse species.
  • Invertebrate models offer insights into conserved biological mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To perform the first complete biochemical characterization of a prodynorphin-like molecule in an invertebrate.
  • To investigate the structural and sequence homology of leech prodynorphin with vertebrate counterparts.
  • To identify biologically active opioid peptides within the invertebrate precursor.

Main Methods:

  • Purification of the 14270 Da protein using gel permeation chromatography, anti-leucine-enkephalin-affinity column, and reverse-phase HPLC.
  • Complete characterization via Edman degradation, enzymatic treatments, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
  • Sequence identity analysis compared to rat, human, and pig prodynorphins.

Main Results:

  • A 119 amino-acid prodynorphin-like protein was identified in the leech Theromyzon tessulatum.
  • The leech protein shows significant sequence identity to mammalian prodynorphins (e.g., 28.8% with rat).
  • Alpha-Neo-endorphin, dynorphin-A, and dynorphin B-like peptides were identified at the C-terminus, with high sequence identity to mammalian forms (100%, 50%, 76.6% respectively). Leucine-enkephalin levels are comparable to vertebrates.
  • Leech prodynorphin possesses a shorter N-terminus compared to mammalian prodynorphins.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first comprehensive biochemical characterization of an invertebrate prodynorphin.
  • The presence of conserved opioid peptide motifs suggests an ancient evolutionary origin for the prodynorphin system.
  • The identified leech prodynorphin represents a valuable model for studying opioid peptide evolution and function across species.

Related Experiment Videos