title: The wide range of actions of the FMRFamide-related peptides and the biological importance of peptidergic messengers.
abstract: The importance of peptides as intercellular messengers is discussed. The view is put forward that peptides evolved early in evolution as chemical messengers and that they have come to exert a wide range of actions. Using as an example the FMRFamide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2) related peptide family of molluscs, the wide range of peptide actions on membrane currents is discussed and considered in relation to co-localization of peptides with low molecular weight (or "classical") intercellular messengers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, University of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Cottrell
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019835:FMRFamide; D006372:Helix, Snails; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D019835:FMRFamide