title: Tachykinins and tachykinin receptors: a growing family.
abstract: The peptides of the tachykinin family are widely distributed within the mammalian peripheral and central nervous systems and play a well-recognized role as excitatory neurotransmitters. Currently, the concept that tachykinins act exclusively as neuropeptides is being challenged, since the best known members of the family, substance P, neurokinin A and neurokinin B, are also present in non-neuronal cells and in non-innervated tissues. Moreover, the recently cloned mammalian tachykinins hemokinin-1 and endokinins are primarily expressed in non-neuronal cells, suggesting a widespread distribution and important role for these peptides as intercellular signaling molecules. The biological actions of tachykinins are mediated through three types of receptors denoted NK(1), NK(2) and NK(3) that belong to the family of G protein-coupled receptors. The identification of additional tachykinins has reopened the debate of whether more tachykinin receptors exist. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of tachykinins and their receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Pharmacology, Victorian College of Pharmacy, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Jocelyn N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Pennefather
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lecci
authors.forename: M Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Candenas
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patak
authors.forename: Francisco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Carlo Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Maggi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D018039:Receptors, Tachykinin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015320:Tachykinins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011498:Protein Precursors; D018039:Receptors, Tachykinin; D015320:Tachykinins