Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01275 (glucagon)
 26,492 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

PACAP and VIP are members of the VIP/secretin/glucagon family of peptides with neurotransmitter, neuroprotective, and neurotrophic functions. PACAP and VIP are known to be upregulated in primary sensory neurons following nerve injury, implying that these neuropeptides could be mediators of sensory transmission in neuropathic pain states. Nerve injury at the level of the trigeminal root is thought to be the prime cause of trigeminal neuralgia. Since cross-excitation (a chemically-mediated form of nonsynaptic transmission) within the TG is postulated to play a central role in trigeminal neuralgia, we studied the expression of PACAP and VIP receptors in the TG by RT PCR and immunocytochemistry. Of the three known receptors (PAC1, VPAC1 and VPAC2), RT PCR revealed the presence of mRNA for VPAC2 and several splice variants of the PAC1 receptor. Immunocytochemistry showed PAC1 and VPAC2 to be present in small-diameter TG neurons. Thus, PACAP and VIP are potential mediators of cross-excitation in the TG.
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PMID:Expression of VPAC2 receptor and PAC1 receptor splice variants in the trigeminal ganglion of the adult rat. 1222 67

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DP-IV) is a cell surface serine dipeptidase that is involved in the regulation of the incretin hormones, glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). There is accumulating evidence that other members of the glucagon family of peptides are also endogenous substrates for this enzyme. To identify candidate substrates for DP-IV, a mass spectrometry-based protease assay was developed that measures cleavage efficiencies (kcat/Km) of polypeptides in a mixture, using only a few picomoles of each substrate and physiological amounts of enzyme in a single kinetic experiment. Oxyntomodulin and the growth hormone-(1-43) fragment were identified as new candidate in vivo substrates. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-(1-38) (PACAP38), a critical mediator of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, was also determined to be efficiently processed by DP-IV in vitro. The catabolism of exogenously administered PACAP38 in wild type and DP-IV-deficient C57Bl/6 mice was monitored by tandem mass spectrometry. Animals lacking DP-IV exhibited a significantly slower clearance of the circulating peptide with virtually complete suppression of the inactive DP-IV metabolite, PACAP-(3-38). These in vivo results suggest that DP-IV plays a major role in the degradation of circulating PACAP38.
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PMID:The role of dipeptidyl peptidase IV in the cleavage of glucagon family peptides: in vivo metabolism of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-(1-38). 1269 Jan 16

Both pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide PACAP and growth hormone-releasing hormone GHRH belong to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide- glucagon-secretin family. They are encoded on the same gene in vertebrates (birds, amphibian, fish). Although the gene encoding PACAP and GHRH has been cloned in other fish species, characterization of this gene in the commercially important grouper (Epinephelus coioides) has not been previously reported. In this study, the GHRH/PACAP cDNA was cloned from grouper hypothalamic tissue. Two cDNA variants of the GHRH/PACAP precursor gene were identified as a result of alternative splicing, a long form encoding both PACAP and GHRH and a short form encoding only PACAP. Both the long and the short forms of the GHRH/PACAP precursor cDNA were identified in grouper 22 issues as well as expression in embryos and larvae by semi-quantitative RT-PCR detection. PACAP / GHRH precursor mRNA was expressed at a high level in the central nervous system than in several peripheral tissues. The data presented here provide the report of PACAP/GHRH mRNA expression in eye and gill tissues in fish. PACAP/GHRH mRNA was expressed in grouper embryo and all larval stages examined and was expressed at a high level starting on neurula stage onwards. The result suggests that PACAP/GHRH had an important role in the development of embryos and larvae, especially in neurula appearance stage.
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PMID:Sequence and expression of a cDNA encoding both pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide and growth hormone-releasing hormone in grouper (Epinephelus coioides). 1295 62

Glucagon-like peptide-1-(7-36)-amide (GLP-1) is a potent blood glucose-lowering hormone now under investigation for use as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of type 2 (adult onset) diabetes mellitus. GLP-1 binds with high affinity to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) located on pancreatic beta-cells, and it exerts insulinotropic actions that include the stimulation of insulin gene transcription, insulin biosynthesis, and insulin secretion. The beneficial therapeutic action of GLP-1 also includes its ability to act as a growth factor, stimulating formation of new pancreatic islets (neogenesis) while slowing beta-cell death (apoptosis). GLP-1 belongs to a large family of structurally-related hormones and neuropeptides that include glucagon, secretin, GIP, PACAP, and VIP. Biosynthesis of GLP-1 occurs in the enteroendocrine L-cells of the distal intestine, and the release of GLP-1 into the systemic circulation accompanies ingestion of a meal. Although GLP-1 is inactivated rapidly by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DDP-IV), synthetic analogs of GLP-1 exist, and efforts have been directed at engineering these peptides so that they are resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis. Additional modifications of GLP-1 incorporate fatty acylation and drug affinity complex (DAC) technology to improve serum albumin binding, thereby slowing renal clearance of the peptides. NN2211, LY315902, LY307161, and CJC-1131 are GLP-1 synthetic analogs that reproduce many of the biological actions of GLP-1, but with a prolonged duration of action. AC2993 (Exendin-4) is a naturally occurring peptide isolated from the lizard Heloderma, and it acts as a high affinity agonist at the GLP-1 receptor. This review summarizes structural features and signal transduction properties of GLP-1 and its cognate beta-cell GPCR. The usefulness of synthetic GLP-1 analogs as blood glucose-lowering agents is discussed, and the applicability of GLP-1 as a therapeutic agent for treatment of type 2 diabetes is highlighted.
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PMID:Glucagon-like peptide-1 synthetic analogs: new therapeutic agents for use in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. 1452 86

PACAP belongs to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)/secretin/glucagon superfamily, which also includes glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP). PACAP shares an insulinotropic property with the latter two peptides; for instance, it stimulates insulin secretion from islets in a glucose-dependent manner at femtomolar concentrations. However, the pathophysiological significance of PACAP in diabetes remains largely unknown, for several reasons, including a lack of low-molecular weight PACAP ligands and a lack of suitable animal models. As an approach to understanding PACAP's pancreatic function in vivo, we have recently generated transgenic mice overexpressing PACAP in islet beta cells under the control of human insulin promoter (Tg mice). As a consequence, it has been demonstrated that in addition to stimulating insulin secretion, PACAP has long-term effects on pancreatic endocrine cells, including proliferation of beta cells during streptozotocin-induced diabetes development as well as aging. These observations provide additional information to support the possibility that drugs associated with PACAP-signaling pathways might be of therapeutic value for the treatment of diabetes. In this review, we briefly summarize these previous studies using Tg mice and also focus on the physiological and pathophysiological roles mediated by PACAP during diabetes development.
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PMID:[Transgenic mice overexpressing PACAP in pancreatic beta-cells: acute and chronic effects on insulin and glucose homeostasis]. 1505 41

RAMPs (receptor activity-modifying proteins) were discovered in 1998 as accessory proteins needed to the functionnal activity of CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) receptors. Three RAMPs generated by three different genes are known in human, rat and mice. The coding sequences of such genes are described, but as yet, regulation sequences are unknown. RAMPs interact with GPCR (G protein-coupled receptors) of class II. In the case of the calcitonin/CGRP peptide family, RAMPs determine the functionnal specificity of the receptor, glycosylate and translocate the receptor to the cell surface. CGRP receptors are observed in presence of the RAMP1/calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR), but the association of RAMP2 or RAMP3 with CRLR generates an adrenomedullin receptor. The calcitonin receptor (CTR) is translocated alone to the cell surface, but interactions of RAMPs with CTR forms amylin receptors. If RAMPs can interact with glucagon, parathyroid hormone and VIP/PACAP (vasoactive intestinal peptide/pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (VPACR1)) receptors, the functionnal specificity of these receptors remains unaltered. However, the complex VPACR1/RAMP2 enhances specifically the phosphoinoside signaling pathway.
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PMID:[RAMPs and G protein coupled receptors]. 1536 43

In this review the structural and functional aspects of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) will be described, and the therapeutic potential of DPP IV inhibitors will be highlighted. DPP IV will be situated in clan SC, a group of serine proteases that contains several proline specific peptidases. Structural aspects of DPP IV and its interaction with different types of inhibitors are recently revealed by the publication of several crystal structures. Especially the design and development of new DPP IV inhibitors based on the three-dimensional structure, substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism will be discussed. In the last years there was an important development of new pyrrolidine-2-nitriles with very promising therapeutic properties for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The role of DPP IV in peptide metabolism of members of the PACAP/glucagon peptide family, neuropeptides and chemokines has been thoroughly investigated during recent years. This is directly related to the promising therapeutic potential of DPP IV inhibitors in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and in the treatment of immunological disorders. Several inhibitors are currently under investigation in clinical trials for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and represent a new class of drugs for the treatment of this disease.
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PMID:The therapeutic potential of inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) and related proline-specific dipeptidyl aminopeptidases. 1585 9

Ghrelin is produced by A-like cells (ghrelin cells) in the mucosa of the acid-producing part of the stomach. The mobilization of ghrelin is stimulated by nutritional deficiency and suppressed by nutritional abundance. In an attempt to identify neurotransmitters and regulatory peptides that may contribute to the physiological, nutrient-related regulation of ghrelin secretion, we challenged the ghrelin cells in situ with a wide variety of candidate messengers, including known neurotransmitters (e.g. acetylcholine, catecholamines), candidate neurotransmitters (e.g. neuropeptides), local tissue hormones (e.g. serotonin, histamine, bradykinin, endothelin), circulating gut hormones (e.g. gastrin, CCK, GIP, neurotensin, PYY, secretin) and other circulating hormones/regulatory peptides (e.g. calcitonin, glucagon, insulin, PTH). Microdialysis probes were placed in the submucosa of the acid-producing part of the rat stomach. Three days later, the putative messenger compounds were administered via the microdialysis probe (reverse microdialysis) at a screening dose of 0.1 mmol l(-1) for regulatory peptides and 0.1 and 1 mmol l(-1) for amines and amino acids. The rats were awake during the experiments. The resulting microdialysate ghrelin concentration was monitored continuously for 3 h (radioimmunoassay), thereby revealing stimulators or inhibitors of ghrelin secretion. Dose-response curves were constructed for each candidate messenger that significantly (p<0.05) affected ghrelin mobilization at the screening dose. Peptides that showed a (non-significant) tendency to affect ghrelin release at the screening dose were also given at a dose of 0.3 or 1 mmol l(-1). Adrenaline, noradrenaline, endothelin and secretin stimulated ghrelin release, while somatostatin and GRP inhibited. Whether these agents act directly or indirectly on the ghrelin cells remains to be investigated. All other candidate messengers were without measurable effects, including acetylcholine, serotonin, histamine, GABA, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, VIP, PACAP, CGRP, substance P, NPY, PYY, PP, gastrin, CCK, GIP, insulin, glucagon, GLP and glucose.
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PMID:Secretion of ghrelin from rat stomach ghrelin cells in response to local microinfusion of candidate messenger compounds: a microdialysis study. 1757 35

PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) is a member of the VIP/secretin/glucagon family, which includes the ligands of class II G-protein coupled receptors. Since the recognition of PACAP by the receptor may involve the binding of PACAP to membranes, its membrane-bound structure should be important. We have carried out structural analysis of uniformly 13C,15N labeled PACAP27 and its C-terminal truncated form PACAP(1-21)NH2 (PACAP21) bound to membranes with high resolution solid-state NMR. Phosphatidylcholine bilayers and phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylglycerol bilayers were used for PACAP27 and PACAP21, respectively. Most backbone signals were assigned for PACAP27 and PACAP21. TALOS analysis revealed that both peptides take on extended conformations on the membranes. Dilution of PACAP21 did not change the conformation of the major part. Selective polarization transfer experiment confirmed that PACAP27 is interacting with the membranes. It was concluded that the interaction of PACAP with the membrane surface causes their extended conformation. PACAP27 is reported to take an alpha-helical conformation in dodecylphosphocholine micelles and membrane-binding peptides usually take similar conformations in micelles and in membranes. Therefore, the property of PACAP27 changing its conformation in response to its environment is unique. Its conformational flexibility may be associated with its wide variety of functions.
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PMID:Structural analysis of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptides bound to phospholipid membranes by magic angle spinning solid-state NMR. 1799 24

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-27 (PACAP27) are members of the secretin-glucagon family containing 28 and 27 residues, respectively. NMR spectroscopy studies suggest that the N-terminus exhibit consecutive beta-turns whereas the central and C-terminal parts of the VIP molecule have been characterized as being two alpha-helices. In contrast, similar studies carried out on PACAP suggest that the shortest active peptide segment PACAP27 in the presence of trifluoroethanol (TFE) exhibits a disordered N-terminal domain followed by a alpha-helix expanding residues 9-26 with a discontinuity between residues 20 and 21. In the present study, a series of MD trajectories of VIP and PACAP27 were carried out using two different implicit models of the solvent: the Generalized Born that use an effective Born radii described by Onufriev, Bashford, and Case (GBOBC) and the Hawkins, Cramer, and Truhlar approximation (GBHCT) and two different force fields: AMBER ff99 and a modified version of the latter described by Sorin and Pande (Biophys J 2005, 88, 2472-2493), ff99SP. Comparison of the structures obtained from the MD trajectories and those derived from the NMR studies in the literature indicates that the GBOBC method is more efficient in the exploration of the conformational space and presents a higher agreement with the experimental structure of VIP and PACAP27 in TFE.
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PMID:Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of VIP and PACAP27. 1915 30


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