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Growth-controlling molluscan neurons produce the precursor of an insulin-related peptide

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Abstract

Insulin and related peptides are key hormonal integrators of growth and metabolism in vertebrates1–3. There is little biochemical evidence for insulin-related peptides in invertebrates, apart from insects for which definitive structural information on these peptides (prothoracicotropic hormone, PTTH) has recently been obtained4. We report here the first complete complementary DNA-derived primary structure of a preproinsulin-related protein from identified neurons in an invertebrate, the mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis. We have demonstrated by in situ hybridization that transcription of the gene for this molluscan insulin-related peptide (MIP) occurs in the cerebral light-green cells, giant neuroendocrine cells involved in the control of growth, as well as in a pair of neuroendocrine cells called the canopy cells. The insulin-related peptide precursor has the same overall structure as its vertebrate counterparts. The discovery of insulin-related peptides in invertebrates substantiates the evidence for a widespread and early evolutionary origin of the insulin superfamily.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biologisch Laboratorium, Vrije Universiteit, PO Box 7161, 1007 MC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    A. B. Smit, E. Vreugdenhil, R. H. M. Ebberink, W. P. M. Geraerts & J. Joosse

  2. Biochemisch Laboratorium, Vrije Universiteit, PO Box 7161, 1007 MC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. Klootwijk

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  1. A. B. Smit
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  2. E. Vreugdenhil
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  3. R. H. M. Ebberink
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  4. W. P. M. Geraerts
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  5. J. Klootwijk
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  6. J. Joosse
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Smit, A., Vreugdenhil, E., Ebberink, R. et al. Growth-controlling molluscan neurons produce the precursor of an insulin-related peptide. Nature 331, 535–538 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/331535a0

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