title: Structural identification, neuronal synthesis, and role in male copulation of myomodulin-A of Lymnaea: a study involving direct peptide profiling of nervous tissue by mass spectrometry.
abstract: We used a strategy combining immunodetection, peptide chemistry, and a novel method, direct peptide fingerprinting of neurons and small pieces of nerve by using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, to structurally identify and localize the neuropeptide myomodulin-A in the mollusc, Lymnaea stagnalis. Lymnaea myomodulin appeared to be identical to Aplysia myomodulin-A and is produced by many central neurons, including neurons located in the ventral lobe of the right cerebral ganglion that innervate the penis complex via the penis nerve. Myomodulin-A could also be characterized from the penis complex, and physiological concentrations of the peptide enhanced the relaxation rate of electrically induced contractions of the penis retractor muscle in vitro in a dose-dependent fashion.
authors: Graduate School Neurosciences Amsterdam, Research Institute Neurosciences Vrije Universiteit, Faculty of Biology, Vrije Universiteit, The Netherlands.
authors: K W
authors: KW
authors: Li
authors: F A
authors: FA
authors: van Golen
authors: J
authors: J
authors: van Minnen
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: van Veelen
authors: J
authors: J
authors: van der Greef
authors: W P
authors: WP
authors: Geraerts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003307:Copulation / Q000502:physiology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008195:Lymnaea / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000032:analysis; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D009842:Oligopeptides; C054127:catch-relaxing peptide (Mytilus); C053302:myomodulin