The Lymnaea Cardioexcitatory Peptide (LyCEP) Receptor: A G-Protein-Coupled Receptor for a Novel Member of the RFamide Neuropeptide Family

• Published in: The Journal of neuroscience 1998-12, Vol.18 (23), p.9812-9821
• Main Authors: Tensen, Cornelis P, Cox, Kingsley J. A, Smit, August B, van der Schors, Roel C, Meyerhof, Wolfgang, Richter, Dietmar, Planta, Rudi J, Hermann, Petra M, van Minnen, Jan, Geraerts, Wijnand P. M, Knol, Jaco C, Burke, Julian F, Vreugdenhil, Erno, van Heerikhuizen, Harm
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Action Potentials - physiology; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cloning, Molecular; DNA Probes; DNA, Complementary; Electrophysiology; Glycoproteins - genetics; Glycoproteins - metabolism; GTP-Binding Proteins - genetics; GTP-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Heart - innervation; Lymnaea - genetics; Lymnaea stagnalis; Molecular Sequence Data; Nerve Fibers - chemistry; Nerve Fibers - metabolism; Nervous System - chemistry; Nervous System - cytology; Nervous System - metabolism; Neuropeptides - genetics; Neuropeptides - metabolism; Oocytes - physiology; Receptors, Neuropeptide - analysis; Receptors, Neuropeptide - genetics; Receptors, Neuropeptide - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Xenopus
• ISSN: 0270-6474; 1529-2401
• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.18-23-09812.1998

A novel G-protein-coupled receptor (GRL106) resembling neuropeptide Y and tachykinin receptors was cloned from the mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis. Application of a peptide extract from the Lymnaea brain to Xenopus oocytes expressing GRL106 activated a calcium-dependent chloride channel. Using this response as a bioassay, we purified the ligand for GRL106, Lymnaea cardioexcitatory peptide (LyCEP), an RFamide-type decapeptide (TPHWRPQGRF-NH2) displaying significant similarity to the Achatina cardioexcitatory peptide (ACEP-1) as well as to the recently identified family of mammalian prolactin-releasing peptides. In the Lymnaea brain, the cells that produce egg-laying hormone are the predominant site of GRL106 gene expression and appear to be innervated by LyCEP-containing fibers. Indeed, LyCEP application transiently hyperpolarizes isolated egg-laying hormone cells. In the Lymnaea pericardium, LyCEP-containing fibers end blindly at the pericardial lumen, and the heart is stimulated by LyCEP in vitro. These data confirm that LyCEP is an RFamide ligand for GRL106.