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Multifunctional Peptide (multifunctional + peptide)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Octopus Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone: A Multifunctional Peptide in the Endocrine and Nervous Systems of the Cephalopod

JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
H. Minakata
The optic gland, which is analogous to the anterior pituitary in the context of gonadal maturation, is found on the upper posterior edge of the optic tract of the octopus Octopus vulgaris. In mature octopus, the optic glands enlarge and secrete a gonadotrophic hormone. A peptide with structural features similar to that of vertebrate gonadotophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was isolated from the brain of octopus and was named oct-GnRH. Oct-GnRH showed luteinising hormone-releasing activity in the anterior pituitary cells of the Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix. Oct-GnRH immunoreactive signals were observed in the glandular cells of the mature optic gland. Oct-GnRH stimulated the synthesis and release of sex steroids from the ovary and testis, and elicited contractions of the oviduct. Oct-GnRH receptor was expressed in the gonads and accessory organs, such as the oviduct and oviducal gland. These results suggest that oct-GnRH induces the gonadal maturation and oviposition by regulating sex steroidogenesis and a series of egg-laying behaviours via the oct-GnRH receptor. The distribution and expression of oct-GnRH in the central and peripheral nervous systems suggest that oct-GnRH acts as a multifunctional modulatory factor in feeding, memory processing, sensory, movement and autonomic functions. [source]

Recombinant vascular basement membrane derived multifunctional peptide blocks endothelial cell angiogenesis and neovascularization,

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2010
Chengkun Wang
Abstract Angiogenesis is an innovative target in the therapy of cancer and other diseases, but the effects of anti-angiogenic drugs have been rather modest in clinical trials. We have developed a small peptide, recombinant vascular basement membrane derived multifunctional peptide (rVBMDMP), which significantly inhibits endothelial cells in vitro. Here we test the mechanisms of rVBMDMP in angiogenesis balance in assays of tubule formation, colony formation, and apoptosis in HUVE-12 endothelial cells. We also analyzed the differential expression of phosphorylation proteins and related genes in a protein phosphorylation chip and extracellular matrix adhesion molecule cDNA microarray, and validated changes with Western blot or real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. rVBMDMP dose-dependently inhibited colony formation, induced apoptosis, and inhibited in vitro tubule formation. rVBMDMP increased the phosphorylation of 88 signal proteins, including caspase-3, death receptor 3, 4, and 5, and integrin ,V, ,1, and ,3, and down-regulated 41 signal proteins, including EGFR, pEGFR, VEGFR-1, and survivin versus control. rVBMDMP upregulated 14 genes, including collagen 4, 7, and 27, and down-regulated 21 genes, including integrin ,V,3, MMP10, and MMP12. Our study suggests that rVBMDMP inhibits angiogenesis and may be a viable drug candidate in anti-angiogenesis and anticancer therapies. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 453,460, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

HYPOTHESIS: Sjögren's syndrome: a possible pathogenetic mechanism involving somatostatin

ORAL DISEASES, Issue 5 2000
L Baccaglini
Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic systemic disease that primarily affects the salivary and lacrimal glands. The pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome is unknown. We hypothesize that reduced somatostatin activity is an important factor in promoting immune dysregulation in patients affected by Sjögren's syndrome. Somatostatin is a multifunctional peptide with potent immunomodulatory properties. Its effects include reduced lymphocytic activity, reduced gastric and intestinal secretions, activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and anti-inflammatory action, all opposite to the general presentation in Sjögren's syndrome. We suggest that the activity of somatostatin is low in patients affected by this disease, and this contributes significantly to the pathology observed. [source]