Mini-review: the evolution of neuropeptide signaling.
Neuropeptides and their G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have an early evolutionary origin and are already abundant in basal animals with primitive nervous systems such as cnidarians (Hydra, jellyfishes, corals, and sea anemones). Most animals emerging after the Cnidaria belong to two evolutionary lineages, the Protostomia (to which the majority of invertebrates belong) and Deuterostomia (to which some minor groups of invertebrates, and all vertebrates belong). These two lineages split about 700 million years (Myr) ago. Many mammalian neuropeptide GPCRs have orthologues in the Protostomia and this is also true for some of the mammalian neuropeptides. Examples are oxytocin/vasopressin, GnRH, gastrin/CCK, and neuropeptide Y and their GPCRs. These results implicate that protostomes (for example insects and nematodes) can be used as models to study the biology of neuropeptide signaling.
Center for Functional and Comparative Insect Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. cgrimmelikhuijzen@bio.ku.dk
Cornelis J P
CJ
Grimmelikhuijzen
Frank
F
Hauser
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D007301:Insect Hormones; D008024:Ligands; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009842:Oligopeptides; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; C044833:adipokinetic hormone; C468120:corazonin receptor; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid