title: Isolation of pyroGlu-Leu-Leu-Gly-Gly-Arg-Phe-NH2 (Pol-RFamide), a novel neuropeptide from hydromedusae.
abstract: The hydromedusa Polyorchis penicillatus is a good model system to study neurotransmission in coelenterates. Using a radioimmunoassay for the peptide sequence Arg-Phe-NH2 (RFamide), two peptides have now been purified from acetic acid extracts of this medusa. The structure of one of these peptides was established as pyroGlu-Leu-Leu-Gly-Gly-Arg-Phe-NH2, and was named Pol-RFamide. This peptide belongs to the same peptide family as a recently isolated neuropeptide from sea anemones (pyroGlu-Gly-Arg-Phe-NH2). Using antisera to Pol-RFamide, the peptide was found to be exclusively localized in neurones of Polyorchis, among them neurones associated with smooth-muscle fibres. This suggests that Pol-RFamide might be a transmitter or modulator at neuromuscular junctions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University of Hamburg, F.R.G.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Grimmelikhuijzen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Rinehart
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003063:Cnidaria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D037401:Scyphozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides