title: Biochemical evidence of angiotensin II-like peptides and proteins in the brain of the rhynchobdellid leech Theromyzon tessulatum.
abstract: The peptides contained in neurons localized in the brain of the leech Theromyzon tessulatum (Hirudinae, Rhynchobdellida) and showing an immunopositive reaction with an antibody directed against angiotensin II (AII), were purified by reversed-phase HPLC. Three AII-like peptides (P1, P2 and P3) which exhibited the same retention times and chromatographic behaviors as synthetic AVII (fragment 6-8 of AII), AIV (fragment 3-8 of AII) and AII, respectively, were resolved in brain extracts. An identification of the proteins immunoreactive to an anti-AII was performed at the level of both brain extracts and in vitro brain-translated RNA products. The protein detected at the level of the brain extracts (of a molecular mass of approximately 18 kDa) is multipeptidic as it is also recognized by two other antisera, a polyclonal one directed against gamma-MSH and a monoclonal one (Tt159) raised against a leech brain epitope. It could be the pro-AII-like precursor. The protein detected at the level of in vitro brain-translated RNA products (of a molecular mass of approximately 19 kDa) could be the prepro-AII-like precursor.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Phylogénie moléculaire des Annélides, ERS 20 CNRS, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salzet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wattez
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Baert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malecha
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007865:Leeches / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D000804:Angiotensin II; D012313:RNA