Nichols Ruthann, Bendena William G, Tobe Stephen S
Biological Chemistry Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
J Neurogenet. 2002 Jan-Mar;16(1):1-28.
Myotropic peptides are structurally dissimilar; thus, they comprise different families. The cellular expressions of myotropins suggest they act as hormones, transmitters, and modulators of numerous biological processes. Drosophila melanogaster allatostatin (AST), FMRFamide-containing, dromyosuppressin (DMS), and drosulfakinin (DSK) peptides represent four different myotropin families. A different gene encodes each of these four myotropin families. D. melanogaster AST, FMRFamide-containing, DMS, and DSK peptides are present in neural and gut tissue, but are not all expressed in the same cells. These four families of myotropins affect spontaneous contractions of gut, heart, and/or reproductive tissue, but their effects are dissimilar in magnitude and time course. Based on their structures, genes, distributions, and activities, the synthesis and release of these D. melanogaster myotropins are likely governed by different sensory inputs and regulatory mechanisms. The differences in structures, precursors, cellular expressions, and activities are consistent with the conclusion that they do not play redundant roles in their effects on the frequency of muscle contractions. Orthologs of these D. melanogaster myotropins exist in other animal species; thus, research on the mechanisms involved in their production and processing, functions, and signaling may be widely applicable. Here, we review research on D. melanogaster AST, FMRFamide-containing, myosuppressin, and sulfakinin peptides.
促肌肽在结构上各不相同；因此，它们分属于不同的家族。促肌肽的细胞表达表明它们可作为激素、递质以及众多生物过程的调节因子。果蝇的抑咽侧体素（AST）、含FMRF酰胺肽、促肌抑制素（DMS）和促肌激肽（DSK）肽代表了四个不同的促肌肽家族。这四个促肌肽家族分别由不同的基因编码。果蝇的AST、含FMRF酰胺肽、DMS和DSK肽存在于神经组织和肠道组织中，但并非都在同一细胞中表达。这四个促肌肽家族会影响肠道、心脏和/或生殖组织的自发收缩，但其作用在强度和时间进程上有所不同。基于它们的结构、基因、分布和活性，这些果蝇促肌肽的合成和释放可能受不同的感觉输入和调节机制控制。其结构、前体、细胞表达和活性的差异与它们在对肌肉收缩频率的影响中不发挥冗余作用这一结论相一致。这些果蝇促肌肽的直系同源物存在于其他动物物种中；因此，对其产生、加工、功能和信号传导机制的研究可能具有广泛的适用性。在此，我们综述了关于果蝇AST、含FMRF酰胺肽、肌抑制素和激肽的研究。
