Maxadilan, a PAC1 receptor agonist from sand flies.
In 1991, a potent 61 amino acid vasodilator peptide, named maxadilan, was isolated from the salivary glands of the sand fly. Subsequently, it was shown that this peptide specifically and potently activated the mammalian PAC1 receptor, one of the three receptors for PACAP. These studies and the link between maxadilan and leishmaniasis are discussed.
Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States. ethan.lerner@cbrc2.mgh.harvard.edu
Ethan A
EA
Lerner
Aurel O
AO
Iuga
Vemuri B
VB
Reddy
D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000378:metabolism*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000378:metabolism; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000635:transmission; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I / Q000819:agonists*
D019476:Insect Proteins; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I; C574015:maxadilan protein, Lutzomyia longipalpis; C069147:maxadilan protein, insect