title: Tachykinins (substance P, neurokinin A and neuropeptide gamma) and neurotensin from the intestine of the Burmese python, Python molurus.
abstract: Peptides with substance P-like immunoreactivity, neurokinin A-like immunoreactivity and neurotensin-like immunoreactivity were isolated in pure form from an extract of the intestine of the Burmese python (Python molurus). The primary structure of python substance P (Arg-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Leu- Met-NH2) shows one amino acid substitution (Phe8-->Tyr) compared with chicken/alligator substance P and an additional substitution (Lys3-->Arg) as compared with mammalian substance P. The neurokinin A-like immunoreactivity was separated into two components. Python neuropeptide gamma (Asp-Ala-Gly-Tyr- Ser-Pro-Leu-Ser-His-Lys-Arg-His-Lys-Thr-Asp-Ser-Phe-Val-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2 shows three substitutions (Gly5-->Ser, Gln6-->Pro and Ile7-->Leu) compared with alligator neuropeptide gamma and an additional substitution (His4-->Tyr) compared with mammalian neuropeptide gamma. Python neurokinin A (His-Lys-Thr-Asp-Ser-Phe-Val-Gly- Leu-Met.NH2) is identical to human/chicken/alligator neurokinin A. Python neurotensin (pGlu-Leu-Val-His-Asn-Lys-Ala-Arg-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu) is identical to chicken/alligator neurotensin. The data are indicative of differential evolutionary pressure to conserve the amino acid sequences of reptilian gastrointestinal peptides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE 68178-0405, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Conlon
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Adrian
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Secor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017821:Boidae; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007422:Intestines / Q000737:chemistry*; D015288:Neurokinin A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013373:Substance P / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015320:Tachykinins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D015320:Tachykinins; C059905:tachykinin neuropeptide gamma; D013373:Substance P; D009496:Neurotensin; D015288:Neurokinin A