title: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) and PAC1 receptor in the testis of cartilaginous fish Torpedo marmorata: A molecular and phylogenetic study.
abstract: The role of PACAP in spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis has been largely investigated in last years in mammals; conversely, a few studies have been performed in non mammalian vertebrates. In this paper we investigated the sequence, expression and localization of PACAP and its PAC1 receptor in the testis of the benthic elasmobranch Torpedo marmorata, the marbled electric ray. Cloning a partial PACAP cDNA, we demonstrated for the first time in elasmobranches that PACAP shows a highly conserved sequence, compared with the PACAP of other chordates (tunicates and vertebrates). Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that PACAP has been well preserved during evolution and that a negative selection acts on PACAP sequence, leading to the conservation of the coding sites. The phylogenetic consensus tree showed also that Torpedo PACAP is more related with the amphibian PACAP than with the teleost one. Finally, we demonstrated that in T. marmorata PACAP and its PAC1 receptor are synthesized directly in the testis, where they show a wider localization than mammals, suggesting that this neuropeptide is involved in the control of Torpedo spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II Naples University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agnese
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II Naples University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valiante
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II Naples University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II Naples University, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: piero.andreuccetti@unina.it.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreuccetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II Naples University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prisco
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014101:Torpedo / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I
keywords: PAC(1)R; PACAP; Spermatogenesis; Steroidogenesis; Torpedo marmorata