• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2022

Neuropeptides produced in neurosecretory cells are the largest group of insect hormones. They regulate various physiological functions, such as fat body homeostasis, feeding, digestion, excretion, circulation, reproduction, metamorphosis, and behavior throughout all life stages. The PRXamide peptide family (X, a variable amino acid) is a well-characterized neuropeptide component with a common amino acid sequence, PRXamide (NH₂), at the C-terminal end conserved across Insecta. The PRXamide peptides are classified into three subfamilies, each having diverse biological roles in insects: (1) pyrokinin (PK) includes the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) and the diapause hormone (DH), (2) the capability (CAPA) peptides, and (3) the ecdysis-triggering hormone (ETH). PBAN as a member of PK subfamily was first identified to stimulate pheromone biosynthesis in moths three decades ago. Since then, PBAN peptides have been extensively studied by various research groups from a broad spectrum of arthropods. In this paper, we briefly review insect PBAN molecules with emphasis on gene structure and expression, signal transduction, physiological mechanism in sex pheromone biosynthesis, and application for pest management.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.645-646
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• 2015

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) or neurotransmitters in the bone marrow microenvironment has been known to regulate hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) functions such as self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation. However, the specific role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in this process remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we demonstrated that NPY deficient mice have significantly reduced HSC numbers and impaired bone marrow regeneration due to apoptotic destruction of SNS fibers and/or endothelial cells. Moreover, NPY treatment prevented bone marrow impairments in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced SNS injury, while conditional knockout mice lacking the Y1 receptor in macrophages did not restore bone marrow dysfunction in spite of NPY injection. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) secreted by NPY-mediated Y1 receptor stimulation in macrophages plays a key role in neuroprotection and HSC survival in the bone marrow. Therefore, this study reveals a new role of NPY in bone marrow HSC microenvironment, and provides an insight into the therapeutic application of this neuropeptide.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2017

Seven transmembrane receptors (7TMRs), also known as G protein-coupled receptors, are popular targets of drug development, particularly 7TMR systems that are activated by peptide ligands. Although many pharmaceutical drugs have been discovered via conventional bulk analysis techniques the increasing availability of structural and evolutionary data are facilitating change to rational, targeted drug design. This article discusses the appeal of neuropeptide-7TMR systems as drug targets and provides an overview of concepts in the evolution of vertebrate genomes and gene families. Subsequently, methods that use evolutionary concepts and comparative analysis techniques to aid in gene discovery, gene function identification, and novel drug design are provided along with case study examples.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.529-537
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• 2021

Most animals face frequent periods of starvation throughout their entire life and thus need to appropriately adjust their behavior and metabolism during starvation for their survival. Such adaptive responses are regulated by a complex set of systemic signals, including hormones and neuropeptides. While much progress has been made in identifying pathways that regulate nutrient-excessive states, it is still incompletely understood how animals systemically signal their nutrient-deficient states. Here, we showed that the FMRFamide neuropeptide FLP-20 modulates a systemic starvation response in Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that mutation of flp-20 rescued the starvation hypersensitivity of the G protein β-subunit gpb-2 mutants by suppressing excessive autophagy. FLP-20 acted in AIB neurons, where the metabotropic glutamate receptor MGL-2 also functions to modulate a systemic starvation response. Furthermore, FLP-20 modulated starvation-induced fat degradation in a manner dependent on the receptor-type guanylate cyclase GCY-28. Collectively, our results reveal a circuit that senses and signals nutrient-deficient states to modulate a systemic starvation response in multicellular organisms.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2022

Pheromone biosynthesis in the pheromone gland is triggered from release of pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) synthesized in the suboesophageal ganglion. PBAN binds to its receptor on the epithelial cell membrane and activates signal transduction pathways for the pheromone biosynthesis. This study reviews sex pheromone, PBAN and its receptor, and pheromone biosynthesis pathway of Maruca vitrata.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 1992

This study was designed to evaluate the responses of cardiovascular system to endothelin (ET) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in 12 week-old SHR treated with or without enalapril (ENP) for 6 weeks. The diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were lower in ENP-treated SHR than in control. The pressor response to intravenous, but not intracerebroventricular, ET or NPY was attenuated by ENP treatment. The chronotropic action induced by electrical stimulation was attenuated by ENP or ET. The negative chronotropic action of ET was blocked by yohimbine. The increase in aortic tension induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) was depressed in ENP-treated group as compared with non-treated group, and enhanced by ET, but not NPY, in the non-treated group. The ET-induced increase in tension was enhanced by removal of endothelium in the control group but not in ENP-treated group. The plasma concentration of norepinephrine and ET-induced increase in concentration of norepinephrine and epinephrine in plasma were decreased in ENP-treated group. These results suggest that preventive effect of enalapril on the development of hypertension may result from depressing vasoactive action of endothelin and neuropeptide Y, and sympathetic neurotransmission at peripheral nervous system.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-12
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• 2016

Schwann cells and neuronal cells from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in embryos of rat were cultured in vitro respectively. The purified neuronal cells with anti-mitotic agents and purified Schwann cells were co-cultured and then accomplished myelination processing. Infection of Semliki forest virus into this myelinated co-culture system was performed and then accomplished demyelination. We identified myelination and demyelination processing using antibody of neuropeptide Y.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2012

Objective: Lin28 has been known to control the proliferation and pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. The purpose of this study was to determine the downstream effectors of Lin28 in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) by RNA interference and microarray analysis. Methods: The control siRNA and Lin28 siRNA (Dharmacon) were transfected into mESCs. Total RNA was prepared from each type of transfected mESC and subjected to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis to confirm the downregulation of Lin28. The RNAs were labeled and hybridized with an Affymetrix Gene-Chip Mouse Genome 430 2.0 array. The data analysis was accomplished by GenPlex 3.0 software. The expression levels of selected genes were confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Results: According to the statistical analysis of the cDNA microarray, a total of 500 genes were altered in Lin28-downregulated mESCs (up-regulated, 384; down-regulated, 116). After differentially expressed gene filtering, 31 genes were selected as candidate genes regulated by Lin28 downregulation. Among them, neuropeptide Y5 receptor and oocyte-specific homeobox 5 genes were significantly upregulated in Lin28-downregulated mESCs. We also showed that the families of neuropeptide Y receptor (Npyr) and oocyte-specific homeobox (Obox) genes were upregulated by downregulation of Lin28. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we suggest that Lin28 controls the characteristics of mESCs through the regulation of effectors such as the Npyr and Obox families.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.93-101
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• 2003

Objective: The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of acupuncture at HT7 (Shinmun) on the feeding behavior and hypothalamic neuropeptide Y(NPY) expression in the maternally separated rat pups. Methods: To show the effect of acupuncture, we performed maternal separation(MS) for 7 days beginning on postnatal day 14, and observed body weight, food intake, and NPY immunoreactivity in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of hypothalamus after acupuncturing at HT7, the end of the transverse crease of the ulnar wrist of the forepaw. Results: MS induced a significant decreases in body weight and food intake, while acupuncture treatment at acupoint HT7 showed much more improvement in those evaluations. NPY-immunoreactivity in area PVN were decreased in the MS group, but significantly increased in the HT7 group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that acupuncture has an effect on the feeding disorders caused by MS, possibly by modulating NPY expression in the PVN.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 1998

We provide the reader with a brief introduction to the neurobiology of neuropeptides. Several comprehensive reviews of the distribution and neurochemical, neurophysiological, neuropharmacological and behavioral effects of the major neuropeptides have recently appeared. In reviews of the large number of neuropeptides in brain and their occurance in brain regions thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders, investigators have sought to determine whether alternations in neuropeptide systems are associated with schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcoholism and neurodegenerative disease. There is no longer any doubt that neuropeptide-containing neurons are altered in several neuropsychiatric disorders. One of the factors that has hindered neuropeptide research to a considerable extent is the lack of pharmacological agents that specifically alter the synaptic availability of neuropeptides. With the exception of naloxone and naltrexone, the opiate-receptor antagonists, there are few available neuropeptide- receptor antagonists. Two independent classes of neuropeptide-receptor antagonists has been expected to be clinically useful. Naltrexone, a potent ${\mu}$-receptor antagonist, has been used successfully to reduce the need for alcohol consumption. And cholecycstokinin antagonists are now in development as a new class of anxiolytics, which would be expected to be free from tolerance and physical dependence and lack of sedation. In this review, we deal with these two kinds of neuropeptide system, the opioid system and cholesystokinins in the brain. The role of opioid systems in the reinforcement after alcohol consumtion and that of cholesystokinins in the pathogenesis of anxiety will be discussed briefly. As we know, the future for neuropeptides in psychiatry remains bright indeed.