Summary
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1.
The central nervous system (CNS) of the freshwater snailLymnaea stagnalis contains several clusters of neuroendocriene cells, which synthesize neuropeptides that act as neurotransmitters, neurohormones, and/or neuromo-dulators, controlling a broad range of physiological processes. Using a protein chemical approach, we have previously characterized a peptide [named LYCP-A (Hoeket al., 1992], which is produced by the neuroendocrine light yellow cells (LYC), which are present as two clusters of endogenously bursting neurons in the visceral and right parietal ganglion, respectively.
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A differential screening technique was used to isolate the cDNA that encodes the prohormone of LYCP-A. The prohormone appeared to contain three or four putative neuropeptides, one of which is LYCP-A. The organization of the identified prohormone resembles that of the histidine-rich basic peptide precursor previously identified in the R3-14 neurons of the marine snailAplysia californica (Campanelli and Scheller, 1987).
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In situ hybridization analysis indicates that the gene encoding the LYC prohormone is expressed in a subset of the LYC. The LYC release their peptides into the hemolymph from a neurohemal area, which is located around the CNS. In addition, the peptides are released from axonal branches in the aorta of the heart, suggesting a role in the regulation of cardiovascular functions.
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Smit, A.B., Hoek, R.M. & Geraerts, W.P.M. The isolation of a cDNA encoding a neuropeptide prohormone from the light yellow cells ofLymnaea stagnalis . Cell Mol Neurobiol 13, 263–270 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00733754
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00733754