The buccalin-related neuropeptides: Isolation and characterization of an Aplysia cDNA clone encoding a family of peptide cotransmitters

M. W. Miller, S. Beushausen, E. C. Cropper, K. Eisinger, S. Stamm, F. S. Vilim, A. Vitek, A. Zajc, I. Kupfermann, J. Brosius, K. R. Weiss

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

The buccalin-related peptides, buccalin A and buccalin B, are members of a family of cotransmitters that modulate neuromuscular transmission in Aplysia. In this study, a third buccalin-related peptide, buccalin C, was purified from neuronal elements in the accessory radula closer, a muscle involved in the animal's feeding behavior. Oligonucleotide probes based upon the amino acid sequence of buccalin C were used to isolate cDNA clones that encode a buccalin precursor polypeptide. The buccalin precursor contains 19 distinct buccalin-related peptides, several of which are present in multiple copies. The buccalin gene appears to be present in a single copy, with one allele containing a small insert. Expression of this gene occurs in a tissue- specific manner and mRNA transcripts are abundant within neurons in the Aplysia CNS. This large family of neuropeptides may exert extraordinarily complex modulatory actions at synapses where they serve as cotransmitters.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3346-3357
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume13
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993

Keywords

  • Aplysia californica
  • buccalin
  • cotransmitter
  • invertebrate
  • mollusk
  • neuromodulator
  • neuropeptide
  • peptide family
  • polypeptide
  • precursor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience (all)

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