title: A proGDNF-related peptide BEP increases synaptic excitation in rat hippocampus.
abstract: The glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) precursor contains several putative sites for prohormone convertase-mediated excision of short peptides. Here, we show that one of the predicted peptides, named BEP (brain excitatory peptide), induces a substantial increase in the synaptic excitability in rat CA1 pyramidal neurons. The excitation is sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide, suggesting involvement of a G-protein-coupled receptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, P.O.Box 63, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. tiina.immonen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Immonen
authors.forename: Anniina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alakuijala
authors.forename: Marjo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hytönen
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sainio
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poteryaev
authors.forename: Mart
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saarma
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasternack
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sariola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D019894:Peptide YY / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D010455:Peptides; D019894:Peptide YY; D007608:Kainic Acid