Cloning and characterization of a full-length pronociceptin in zebrafish: evidence of the existence of two different nociceptin sequences in the same precursor.
We report the cloning and molecular characterization of a zebrafish pronociceptin gene, which is expressed in brain and intestine. This fish precursor codes for two different nociceptin peptides, one of which presents an opioid sequence in its N-terminus, being more similar to dynorphin A than its mammalian counterparts. Our results represent a new tool to investigate the function of nociceptin and its receptor in relation to pain and drug addiction.
Gonzalez-Nunez
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Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Salamanca, Spain.
Gonzalez-Sarmiento
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Rodríguez
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics*; D000097629:Nociceptin
D018847:Opioid Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D000097629:Nociceptin; C119224:pronociceptin