title: Expression of neuropeptide Y family peptides in the brain and gut during stages of the life cycle of a parasitic lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and a nonparasitic lamprey (Ichthyomyzon gagei).
abstract: The long-term objective of our research is to show that internal factors may be key to triggering metamorphosis and directing the life history types in lampreys (parasitism versus nonparasitism). Since neuropeptide Y family peptides are key players in the endocrine-mediated feeding and reproductive events in mammals, a role for these peptides in the control of feeding behavior and development can be predicted for lampreys. We have investigated the expression pattern of these peptides in the brain and in the gut during different stages of the life cycle of the parasitic lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, and the nonparasitic lamprey, Ichthyomyzon gagei. We provide a description of the cloning and sequencing of P. marinus and I. gagei cDNA for neuropeptide Y (NPY), peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY), and peptide methionine-tyrosine (PMY). Using sequence-specific primers, the mRNA expression patterns for these peptides in brain and gut of larval (ammocoete) and adult (juvenile, prespawning) lampreys were examined by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The observations extend a potential role of neuropeptide Y family peptides in the modulation of feeding behavior and reproductive maturity in lampreys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. montpetit@utsc.utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Montpetit
authors.forename: Vitali
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chatalov
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuk
authors.forename: Indra
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rasaratnam
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Youson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D048428:Petromyzon / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y