title: Structure and functions of the novel hypothalamic RFamide neuropeptides R-RFa and 26RFa in vertebrates.
abstract: A number of RFamide peptides have been characterized in invertebrate species and these peptides have been found to exert a broad spectrum of biological activities. In contrast, in vertebrates, our knowledge on RFamide peptides is far more limited and only a few members of the RFamide peptide family have been identified in various vertebrate classes during the last years. The present review focuses on two novel RFamide peptides, Rana RFamide (R-RFa) and 26RFa, that have been recently isolated from the amphibian brain. R-RFa shares the C-terminal LPLRFamide motif with other RFamide peptides previously identified in mammals, birds and fish. The distribution of R-RFa in the frog brain exhibits strong similarities with those of other LPLRFamide peptides, notably in the periventricular region of the hypothalamus. There is also evidence that the physiological functions of R-RFa and other LPLRFamide peptides have been conserved from fish to mammals; in particular, all these peptides appear to be involved in the control of pituitary hormone secretion. 26RFa does not exhibit any significant structural identity with other RFamide peptides and this peptide is the only member of the family that possesses an FRFamide motif at its C-terminus. The strong conservation of the primary structure of 26RFa from amphibians to mammals suggests that this RFamide peptide is involved in important biological functions in vertebrates. As for several other RFamide peptides, 26RFa-containing neurons are present in the hypothalamus, notably in two nuclei involved in the control of feeding behavior. Indeed, 26RFa is a potent stimulator of appetite in mammals. Concurrently, recent data suggest that 26RFa exerts various neuroendocrine regulatory activities at the pituitary and adrenal level.
authors.affiliation: European Institute for Peptide Research (IFRMP23), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neuroendocrinology, INSERM U 413, University of Rouen, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chartrel
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bruzzone
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leprince
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tollemer
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Anouar
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Do-Régo
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ségalas-Milazzo
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guilhaudis
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cosette
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jouenne
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simonnet
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vallarino
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beauvillain
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costentin
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vaudry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000737:chemistry*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000032:analysis; D011898:Ranidae; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D009842:Oligopeptides; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; C042219:leucyl-prolyl-leucyl-arginyl-phenylalaninamide; C083929:neuropeptide FF receptor; C480638:prepro-26RFa protein, human; C058047:arginylphenylalaninamide