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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #220147

Title: Invertebrate Neuropeptides

Author
item Masler, Edward

Submitted to: Neurobiology
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2008
Publication Date: 4/1/2008
Citation: Masler, E.P. 2008. Invertebrate Neuropeptides. In: Meyers, R.A., editor. Neurobiology. From Molecular Basis to Disease. Vol. 1. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH Verlag. p. 257-271.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Nematodes depend upon peptide messengers to regulate diverse behavioral, developmental, and metabolic events. In free-living nematodes, sequencing of the first complete animal genome facilitated detection of biologically-active peptides, including neuropeptides. This has complemented previous and ongoing efforts in biochemistry, pharmacology and physiology, revealing that nematodes possess some peptide families that are exceedingly complex. Complexity can result from large numbers of genes encoding related amino acid sequences, as in the case of the FMRFamide-like peptides, or from intricate variations of molecular architectures, as seen among members of the insulin-like peptides family. These and two other peptide families are described, along with their established and proposed functions.