Benjamin P R, Burke J F
Sussex Centre for Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
Bioessays. 1994 May;16(5):335-42. doi: 10.1002/bies.950160508.
Neuronal signalling involves multiple neuropeptides that are diverse in structure and function. Complex patterns of tissue-specific expression arise from alternate RNA splicing of neuropeptide-encoding gene transcripts. The pattern of expression and its role in cell signalling is difficult to study at the level of single neurons in the complex vertebrate brain. However, in the model molluscan system, Lymnaea, it is possible to show that alternate mRNA expression of the FMRFamide gene is specific to single identified neurons. Two different transcripts are expressed in a mutually exclusive manner in different neurons. Post-translational processing of the two precursor proteins leads to completely distinct sets of neuropeptide transmitters. The function of these transmitter cocktails, resulting from alternate mRNA splicing, was studied physiologically in identified neurons forming part of a behaviourally important network regulating heartbeat.
神经元信号传导涉及多种结构和功能各异的神经肽。神经肽编码基因转录本的可变RNA剪接产生了组织特异性表达的复杂模式。在复杂的脊椎动物大脑中，在单个神经元水平上研究这种表达模式及其在细胞信号传导中的作用是困难的。然而，在模式软体动物系统——椎实螺中，可以证明FMRF酰胺基因的可变mRNA表达是单个已识别神经元所特有的。两种不同的转录本在不同的神经元中以互斥的方式表达。两种前体蛋白的翻译后加工导致了完全不同的神经肽递质组合。在构成调节心跳的行为重要网络一部分的已识别神经元中，对由可变mRNA剪接产生的这些递质组合的功能进行了生理学研究。
