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Neuropeptides in coelenterates: a review

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  • XII. Physiology and behaviour Transmitters
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Abstract

Coelenterate neurones produce peptides containing an Arg-Phe-NH2(RF-amide)-like carboxyterminus. RF-amide-like peptides are located in neuronal dense-cored vesicles, indicating that they are released by exocytosis and that they might function as neurotransmitters or neurohormones. Using a radioimmunoassay for the sequence RF-amide, 3 peptides were isolated from the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima: < Glu-Gly-Arg-Phe-NH2(Antho-RF-amide), <Glu-Ser-Leu-Arg-Trp-NH2(Antho-RWamide I) and <Glu-Gly-Leu-Arg-Trp-NH2(Antho-RW-amide II). The general structure of these peptides can be described as <Glu...Arg-X-NH2, where X is an aromatic amino acid. From the hydromedusa Polyorchis penicillatus, the peptide <Glu-Leu-Leu-Gly-Gly-Arg-Phe-NH2(Pol-RF-amide I) was isolated, which also belongs to the <Glu...Arg-X-NH2 family. Using specific antisera, it was shown that all 4 peptides were located in neurones, many of which were associated with smooth muscle fibres. Application of low doses of Antho-RF-amide or of Antho-RW-amide I and II induced contractions of endodermal muscles of sea anemones. This suggests that these peptides are transmitters or modulators at neuromuscular junctions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Molecular Neurobiology, University of Hamburg, Martinistr. 52, 2000, Hamburg 20, Germany

    C. J. P. Grimmelikhuijzen & D. Graff

  2. Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 66506, Manhattan, KS, USA

    O. Koizumi & J. A. Westfall

  3. Department of Applied Biology, University of Hull, HU6 7RX, Hull, UK

    I. D. McFarlane

Authors
  1. C. J. P. Grimmelikhuijzen
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  2. D. Graff
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  3. O. Koizumi
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  4. J. A. Westfall
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  5. I. D. McFarlane
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Grimmelikhuijzen, C.J.P., Graff, D., Koizumi, O. et al. Neuropeptides in coelenterates: a review. Hydrobiologia 216, 555–563 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026513

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