title: Characterization of the teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP) in the vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis: A novel peptide system associated with energy metabolism and reproduction.
abstract: The vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis, is a protochordate and is considered a sister lineage to the chordates. The recent sequencing of its genome has made this species a particularly important model to understand the genetic basis of vertebrate evolution. However, C. intestinalis is also a highly invasive species along the Atlantic coast of North America and other regions of the world which have caused considerable economic stress due to its biofouling actions and, in particular, negative impacts on the mussel- and oyster-based aquaculture industry. Despite this background, little is known about C. intestinalis physiology. The teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAP) are a family of highly conserved peptide hormones found in most metazoans. Moreover, these peptides have been implicated in the inhibition of stress and stimulation of feeding-based metabolism. We have, therefore, identified this peptide using an in silico approach and characterized its immunological expression in tissues using a mouse polyclonal antiserum. These data indicate that its primary structure is more similar to invertebrate TCAPs relative to vertebrate TCAPs. Immunological expression indicates that it is highly expressed in the digestive tract and gonads consistent with findings in vertebrates. Synthetic mouse TCAP-1 administered into the brachial basket significantly increases the incidence of non-stress contractile behaviors. These findings support the hypothesis that TCAP is a bioactive peptide in C. intestinalis. Thus, C. intestinalis and tunicates in general may offer a simple model to investigate peptide interaction while providing information on how to control this invasive species.
authors: Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Colacci
authors: Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Reuben
authors: R
authors: De Almeida
authors: Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Dhan
authors: D
authors: Chand
authors: Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Sabine R
authors: SR
authors: Lovejoy
authors: Coastal Ecosystem Science Division, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors: Dawn
authors: D
authors: Sephton
authors: Coastal Ecosystem Science Division, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors: Benedikte
authors: B
authors: Vercaemer
authors: Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: david.lovejoy@utoronto.ca.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Lovejoy
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; C000594509:teneurin-C terminal associated peptide
keywords: Behavior; Chordate evolution; Corticotropin-releasing factor; Peptides; Protochordates; Stress