Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P20366 (substance P)
 21,176 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to study the adrenal organs of the anuran species Rana esculenta, Caldula pulchra and Bufo marinus with respect to the distribution and coexistence of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), Leu-enkephalin (Leu-ENK). Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe (MEAP) and dynorphin A 1-17 (DYN). Antisera against enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis, i.e., dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), were used for the identification of chromaffin cells. ANP-immunoreactive (-IR) cells occurred in high densities (30%-70% of the total cell population) in all species investigated. In C. pulchra and B. marinus, BNP-IR cells constituted a population of non-DBH-IR and non-TH-IR cells that were different from the ANP-IR cells. A large proportion of the adrenal cells (10%-55%) were immunoreactive to Leu-ENK, and a minority (2%-5%) showed MEAP-immunoreactivity. DYN-immunoreactivity was not observed. The anurans studied exhibited small numbers of SP-IR, CGRP-IR and NPY-IR cells. Immunoreactivities for ANP + Leu-ENK and Leu-ENK + MEAP were shown to coexist. In C. pulchra and B. marinus, immunoreactions for ANP + NPY, ANP+SP and SP + CGRP were also colocalized. Except for DYN, all neurohormonal peptides also occurred in intra-adrenal nerve fibers. SP-IR fibers also displayed CGRP-immunoreactivity and some Leu-ENK-IR fibers contained MEAP-immunoreactivity. In C. pulchra, NPY-IR fibers were found that also showed ANP-immunoreactivity.
 ...
PMID:Distribution patterns and coexistence of neurohormonal peptides (ANP, BNP, NPY, SP, CGRP, enkephalins) in chromaffin cells and nerve fibers of the anuran adrenal organ. 137 3

Thiol and aspartyl proteolytic activities in isolated secretory vesicles of neural (NL) and intermediate (IL) lobes of bovine pituitary were characterized with heterologous enkephalin and tachykinin precursor substrates, 35S-(Met)-preproenkephalin and 35S-(Met)-beta-preprotachykinin. IL and NL secretory vesicles contained thiol-dependent proteolytic activity that cleaved the enkephalin precursor with a pH optimum of 4.5; this activity resembled a novel "prohormone thiol protease' previously purified and characterized from adrenal medulla chromaffin granules. IL and NL vesicles also demonstrated aspartyl proteolytic activity with acidic pH optimum, as shown by pepstatin A inhibition of tachykinin and enkephalin precursor cleaving activity. This activity may be related to a previously characterized chromaffin granule aspartyl protease (CGAP) related to cathepsin D (2), as indicated by the presence of immunoreactive CGAP in NL secretory vesicles by anti-CGAP immunoblots. These results show that pituitary secretory vesicles, like chromaffin granules, may contain similar thiol-dependent and aspartyl proteolytic activities.
 ...
PMID:Thiol and aspartyl proteolytic activities in secretory vesicles of bovine pituitary. 155 May 54

Purification and potential tachykinin and enkephalin precursor cleaving enzymes from bovine chromaffin granules was undertaken using as substrates the model precursors 35S-(Met)-beta-preprotachykinin [35S-(Met)-beta-PPT] and 35S-(Met)-preproenkephalin [35S-(Met)-PPE]. Purification by concanavalin A-Sepharose, Sephacryl S200, and chromatofocusing resulted in a chromaffin granule aspartyl protease (CGAP) that preferred the tachykinin over the enkephalin precursor. CGAP was composed of 47-, 30-, and 16.5-kDa polypeptides migrating as a single band in a nondenaturing electrophoretic gel system, and coeluting with an apparent molecular mass of 45-55 kDa by size-exclusion chromatography. These results suggest that two forms exist: a single 47-kDa polypeptide and a complex of 30 + 16.5-kDa-associated subunits. CGAP was optimally active at pH 5.0-5.5, indicating that it would be active within the acidic intragranular environment. Cleavage at basic residues was suggested by HPLC and HVE identification of 35S-(Met)-NKA-Gly-Lys as the major acid-soluble product generated from 35S-(Met)-beta-PPT. Neuropeptide K was cleaved at a Lys-Arg basic residue site, as determined by identification of proteolytic products by microsequencing and amino acid composition analyses. Structural studies showed that the three CGAP polypeptides were similar to bovine cathepsin D in NH2-terminal sequences and amino acid compositions, indicating that CGAP appears to be a cathepsin D-related protease or cathepsin D itself. The 47- and 16.5-kDa polypeptides of CGAP possessed identical NH2-terminal sequences, suggesting that the 16.5-kDa polypeptide may be derived from the 47-kDa form by proteolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Purification and characterization of a cathepsin D protease from bovine chromaffin granules. 156 70

This light microscopic immunohistochemical study investigates the distribution and target interrelations of nerve fibers in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissues (BALT) of rat and cat by using antisera against (1) the polyneuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), (2) selected opioid and nonopioid peptides, and (3) the marker enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH). In both species, a similar distribution pattern of PGP, peptide, and catecholamine enzyme immunoreactive was observed. Anti-PGP 9.5 stained all nerve fibers (except some smaller, calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive (CGRP-ir) fibers presumably of the C-type) throughout the different compartments of BALT, e.g., under the epithelium, in the smooth muscle layer, along the vasculature, and between immune cells of BALT parenchyma. The distribution of fibers staining for peptides (substance P (SP), (CGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY). Leu-enkephalin, Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu) and/or the catecholamine enzymes was also not compartment-specific. However, the density of the different peptidergic fibers and those staining for the marker enzymes exhibited region- and target-specific variations, e.g., fibers, cocontaining substance P and CGRP were more ubiquitous in nonvascular regions than codistributed NPY-, TH-, and DBH-ir fibers, which clearly prevailed in perivascular plexus. Regularly, nerve fibers staining for any of the peptides and markers investigated formed close contacts with mast cells, cells of the macrophage/monocyte cell line (identified as ED1 + cells), and/or other lymphoid cells, although with different frequencies. We assume that the SP/CGRP innervation is mainly of primary sensory origin, while the NPY innervation is chiefly derived from postganglionic noradrenergic sympathetic neurons. The VIP/PHI component is most likely postganglionic cholinergic while the opioid component, apparently derived from the Proenkephalin precursor, could be of differential origin. We propose that the neuroimmune connections in BALT play a significant role in the regulation and/or modulation of physiological/pathophysiological mechanisms of the lung. BALT may also be an integral part of the psycho-neuro-immune axis.
 ...
PMID:The neuroimmune link in the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) of cat and rat: peptides and neural markers. 167 20

Recent immunohistochemical studies have shown the distribution of histaminergic neurons in the mammalian brain, which are concentrated in the tuberomammillary nucleus of the posterior hypothalamus and project efferent fibers to almost all parts of the brain from the olfactory bulb to the spinal cord. Histaminergic neurons co-express other neuroactive substances, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, adenosine, substance P, galanin and Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe. In addition, pharmacological studies have demonstrated the presence of presynaptic histamine H3-receptors (autoreceptor) in addition to H1- and H2-receptors. The specific agonist (alpha-methylhistamine) and antagonist (thioperamide) of H3-receptors were developed. Results from a number of studies indicate a variety of physiological roles of neuronal histamine such as thermoregulation, feeding behavior, sexual activity, sleep-wakefulness cycle, hormonal regulation and so on. Moreover, histaminergic drugs affect not only the emotional behavior, but also are effective to treat some patients of depression, Parkinson's disease, akathisia, motion sickness and so on. The central histaminergic neuron system is also affected by mental disorders and neuropsychopharmacological drugs. This review especially focused on these points and suggests that the central histaminergic neuron system may play an important role in the regulation of mental functions.
 ...
PMID:[Recent advances in neuropsychopharmacology of the central histaminergic neuron system]. 192 57

Proteolytic processing enzymes are required to convert the enkephalin precursor to active opioid peptides. In this study, a novel 33-kDa thiol protease that cleaves complete precursor in the form of [35S]methionine preproenkephalin was purified from bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin granules. Chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and Sephacryl S-200, chromatofocusing, and chromatography on thiopropyl-Sepharose resulted in an 88,000-fold purification with a recovery of 35% of enzyme activity. The thiol protease is a glycoprotein with a pI of 6.0. It cleaves [35S]methionine preproenkephalin with a pH optimum of 5.5, indicating that it is functional at the intragranular pH of 5.5-6.0. Interestingly, production of trichloroacetic acid-soluble products was optimal at pH 4.0, suggesting that processing of initial precursor and intermediates may require slightly different pH conditions. The protease requires dithiothreitol for activity and is inhibited by the thiol protease inhibitors iodoacetate, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, mercuric chloride, and cystatin. These properties distinguish it from other thiol proteases (cathepsins B, H, L, N, and S), indicating that a unique thiol protease has been identified. The enzyme converted [35S]cysteine preproenkephalin (possessing [35S]cysteine residues specifically within the precursor's NH2-terminal segment) to 22.1-, 21.6-, 17.7-, 17.3-, and 15.0-kDa intermediates that contain the precursor's NH2-terminal segment; proenkephalin in vivo is converted to similar intermediates. The enzyme cleaves peptide F at Lys-Arg and Lys-Lys dibasic amino acid sites to generate methionine enkephalin and intermediates. The appropriate vesicular localization, pH optimum, proteolytic products, and cleavage site specificity suggest that this thiol protease may be involved in enkephalin precursor processing. Most interestingly, [35S]methionine beta-preprotachykinin, a precursor of substance P, is minimally cleaved, suggesting that the thiol protease may possess some selectivity for the enkephalin precursor.
 ...
PMID:Purification and characterization of a novel thiol protease involved in processing the enkephalin precursor. 202 53

Mild footshock stress selectively activates ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons innervating the prefrontal cortex. The same stressor rapidly dissociates ventral tegmental substance P from its preprotachykinin-derived co-transmitter substance K, and preproenkephalin B-derived dynorphin B from preproenkephalin A-derived Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu and Leu-enkephalin. Mild footshock stress may provide a paradigm for studying both peptidergic modulation of brain dopaminergic neurons and the dynamic regulation of tachykinin and opioid peptide transcription, processing and utilization.
 ...
PMID:Mild footshock stress dissociates substance P from substance K and dynorphin from Met- and Leu-enkephalin. 242 38

The parabrachial nucleus (PB) is the major relay for ascending visceral afferent information from the nucleus of the solitary tract to the forebrain. We have recently found that PB in the rat also receives a substantial afferent projection from neurons in the marginal zone of the entire length of the spinal and trigeminal dorsal horn. Immunoreactive perikarya stained with antisera against several neuropeptides--including dynorphin, enkephalins, and substance P--have been identified in the marginal zone. We therefore investigated the chemical specificity of the spinoparabrachial projection by combining fluorescent retrograde tracing with immunofluorescence for substance P, dynorphin A1-17, met-enkephalin, and two enkephalin precursor fragments (proenkephalin 192-203 and peptide E). Following PB injections of fluorescent dyes, about half of the retrogradely labeled neurons in the marginal zone stained with antisera against either dynorphin or enkephalin series peptides. Elution-restaining experiments indicated that the dynorphin- and enkephalin-immunoreactivities were contained within separate populations of marginal zone neurons. We could not identify any substance P-immunoreactive perikarya in the marginal zone, but substance P-immunoreactive fibers were seen in close apposition to retrogradely labeled, opioid-immunoreactive cell bodies and dendrites. These results indicate that the dynorphin- and enkephalin-immunoreactive perikarya in the marginal zone of the dorsal horn represent independent neuronal populations. These opioid-immunoreactive neurons, which are believed to have extensive local collateral connections, are the main source of a long ascending projection to the parabrachial nucleus in the rat. Furthermore, opioid neurons in the marginal zone may receive substance P-immunoreactive primary sensory afferents.
 ...
PMID:Opioid peptide immunoreactivity in spinal and trigeminal dorsal horn neurons projecting to the parabrachial nucleus in the rat. 301 10

The distribution of FMRFamidelike peptides was studied in the nervous system of the lobster Homarus americanus by using immunocytochemical and radioimmunological techniques. By radioimmunoassay FMRFamidelike immunoreactivity (FLI) was found in low levels (ca. 1 pmol/mg protein) throughout the ventral nerve cord and in much higher amounts (60-100 pmol/mg protein) in the neurosecretory pericardial organs. Immunocytochemical studies showed FLI in approximately 300-350 cell bodies, and in distinct neuropil regions, neuronal fiber tracts, and varicose endings. Specificity of the immunostaining was tested by preabsorbing the antiserum with FMRFamide, with peptides having similar carboxyl termini to FMRFamide (Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe, Phe-Met-Arg-Tyr-amide), with several amidated peptides (alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, substance P, oxytocin), and with proctolin, a peptide found widely distributed in the lobster nervous system. Of these substances, only FMRFamide blocked the staining. In addition to the pericardial organs, significant levels of FLI were found in neurosecretory regions associated with thoracic second roots and in the connective tissue sheath that surrounds the ventral nerve cord. In all three regions, immunocytochemical studies showed the FLI to be localized to fine fibers and associated terminal varicosities lying close to the surface of the tissue, with no obvious target in their immediate vicinity. When examined at the ultrastructural level, the immunoreactive varicosities of the thoracic second roots and of the ventral nerve cord sheaths were found a few microns from the surface of the tissue and contained electron-dense granules. In the immunoreactive nerve cord sheath endings, in addition to the large, dense granules, small, clear vesicles were found. The appearance and location of these terminals suggest a neurohormonal role for FMRFamidelike peptides in lobsters. The observation that low levels of FLI are found in the hemolymph supports this suggestion. In addition, the localization of FLI to particular neuronal somata, fiber tracts, and neuropil regions suggests possible functional roles for these peptides in (1) integration of visual and olfactory information, (2) function of the anterior and posterior gut, and (3) the control of exoskeletal muscles.
 ...
PMID:FMRFamidelike peptides of Homarus americanus: distribution, immunocytochemical mapping, and ultrastructural localization in terminal varicosities. 332 67

Purified rat brain cathepsin B (EC 3.4.22.1) converted prodynorphins or proenkephalins to shorter active forms by the preferential removal of C-terminal dipeptides. The substrate affinities for Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe or -Arg-Gly-Leu were Km 46 and 117 microM, and kcat/Km ratios were 67 and 115 microM-1, min-1, respectively. Met-Enkephalin was inactivated by the same mechanism (Km-450 microM; kcat/Km = 0.12 microM-1 min-1). The comparison of cathepsin B hydrolysis for pro-opioids, a synthetic hexapeptide and its fragments, C-blocked peptides (pro-opioid amides, Met-enkephalin amide, substance P), and bovine myelin basic protein, provided information on the influence of the C-terminal residues on dipeptide release, the rates as correlated to peptide length, and the optimal arrangement of residues favoring scission at the P1-P'1 sites. The brain enzyme was stereospecific and did not act on peptides with C-terminal D-amino acid substituents. Arg hindered and Pro blocked the release of C-terminal dipeptides when in the P'2 positions. The suppression of dipeptide release by agents inhibiting endopeptidase actions such as E-64 and leupeptin, and the endogenous brain factor (cerebrocystatin) point to similar catalytic mechanisms for the exopeptidase action.
 ...
PMID:Preferential action of rat brain cathepsin B as a peptidyl dipeptidase converting pro-opioid oligopeptides. 353 Jan 35


1 2 Next >>