Identification of neuromedin S and its possible role in the mammalian circadian oscillator system.
The discovery of neuropeptides has resulted in an increased understanding of novel regulatory mechanisms of certain physiological phenomena. Here we identify a novel neuropeptide of 36 amino-acid residues in rat brain as an endogenous ligand for the orphan G protein-coupled receptor FM-4/TGR-1, which was identified to date as the neuromedin U (NMU) receptor, and designate this peptide 'neuromedin S (NMS)' because it is specifically expressed in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. NMS shares a C-terminal core structure with NMU. The NMS precursor contains another novel peptide. NMS mRNA is highly expressed in the central nervous system, spleen and testis. In rat brain, NMS expression is restricted to the core of the SCN and has a diurnal peak under light/dark cycling, but remains stable under constant darkness. Intracerebroventricular administration of NMS in rats activates SCN neurons and induces nonphotic type phase shifts in the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity. These findings suggest that NMS in the SCN is implicated in the regulation of circadian rhythms through autocrine and/or paracrine actions.
Mori
Kenji
K
Department of Biochemistry, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Fujishirodai, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Miyazato
Mikiya
M
Ida
Takanori
T
Murakami
Noboru
N
Serino
Ryota
R
Ueta
Yoichi
Y
Kojima
Masayasu
M
Kangawa
Kenji
K
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009043:Motor Activity; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism
D017931:DNA Primers; D009479:Neuropeptides; C497950:neuromedin S