A new peptide of the oxytocin/vasopressin family isolated from nerves of the cephalopod Octopus vulgaris.
An oxytocin/vasopressin-immunoreactive peptide was isolated from nerve terminals of the 'neurosecretory system of the vena cava' in octopus. It was purified by HPLC combined with a RIA for oxytocin. Characterization of the peptide by automated Edman degradation, plasma desorption mass spectroscopy, enzymatic treatment and coelution experiments resulted in the structure: Cys-Tyr-Phe-Arg-Asn-Cys-Pro-Ile-Gly-NH2, a nonapeptide with a molecular weight of 1070 Da and a 1-6 disulfide bond. This cephalopod neuropeptide, here called 'cephalotocin', exhibits 78% sequence homology with the vertebrate neurohypophysial hormone mesotocin and clearly belongs to the oxytocin/vasopressin family of vertebrates, confirming the high conservation of this peptide family.
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Sektion Elektronenmikroskopie, Universität Ulm, F.R.G.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000737:chemistry*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000737:chemistry*; D049831:Octopodiformes; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000235:genetics; D014714:Vertebrates
D009479:Neuropeptides; D014667:Vasopressins; D010121:Oxytocin