Takahashi Toshio, Hatta Masayuki
Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Bioorganic Research Institute, 1-1-1 Wakayamadai, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan.
J Amino Acids. 2011;2011:424501. doi: 10.4061/2011/424501. Epub 2011 Oct 20.
The peptide-signaling molecules (<50 amino acid residues) occur in a wide variety of invertebrate and vertebrate organisms, playing pivotal roles in physiological, endocrine, and developmental processes. While some of these peptides display similar structures in mammals and invertebrates, others differ with respect to their structure and function in a species-specific manner. Such a conservation of basic structure and function implies that many peptide-signaling molecules arose very early in the evolutionary history of some taxa, while species-specific characteristics led us to suggest that they also acquire the ability to evolve in response to specific environmental conditions. In this paper, we describe GLWamide-family peptides that function as signaling molecules in the process of muscle contraction, metamorphosis, and settlement in cnidarians. The peptides are produced by neurons and are therefore referred to as neuropeptides. We discuss the importance of the neuropeptides in both developmental and physiological processes in a subset of hydrozoans, as well as the potential use as a seed compound in drug development and aspects related to the protection of corals.
肽信号分子（<50个氨基酸残基）存在于各种各样的无脊椎动物和脊椎动物中，在生理、内分泌和发育过程中发挥着关键作用。虽然其中一些肽在哺乳动物和无脊椎动物中显示出相似的结构，但其他肽在结构和功能上因物种而异。这种基本结构和功能的保守性意味着许多肽信号分子在某些分类群的进化历史中很早就出现了，而物种特异性特征使我们认为它们也获得了响应特定环境条件而进化的能力。在本文中，我们描述了在刺胞动物的肌肉收缩、变态和附着过程中起信号分子作用的GLWamide家族肽。这些肽由神经元产生，因此被称为神经肽。我们讨论了神经肽在水螅虫亚纲一部分动物的发育和生理过程中的重要性，以及作为药物开发中的先导化合物的潜在用途和与珊瑚保护相关的方面。
