Characterization of the teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP) in the vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis: A novel peptide system associated with energy metabolism and reproduction.

Autor: Colacci M; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada., De Almeida R; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada., Chand D; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada., Lovejoy SR; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada., Sephton D; Coastal Ecosystem Science Division, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada., Vercaemer B; Coastal Ecosystem Science Division, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada., Lovejoy DA; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: david.lovejoy@utoronto.ca.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: General and comparative endocrinology [Gen Comp Endocrinol] 2015 May 15; Vol. 216, pp. 161-70. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Feb 14.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.01.021
Abstrakt: The vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis, is a protochordate and is considered a sister lineage to the chordates. The recent sequencing of its genome has made this species a particularly important model to understand the genetic basis of vertebrate evolution. However, C. intestinalis is also a highly invasive species along the Atlantic coast of North America and other regions of the world which have caused considerable economic stress due to its biofouling actions and, in particular, negative impacts on the mussel- and oyster-based aquaculture industry. Despite this background, little is known about C. intestinalis physiology. The teneurin C-terminal associated peptides (TCAP) are a family of highly conserved peptide hormones found in most metazoans. Moreover, these peptides have been implicated in the inhibition of stress and stimulation of feeding-based metabolism. We have, therefore, identified this peptide using an in silico approach and characterized its immunological expression in tissues using a mouse polyclonal antiserum. These data indicate that its primary structure is more similar to invertebrate TCAPs relative to vertebrate TCAPs. Immunological expression indicates that it is highly expressed in the digestive tract and gonads consistent with findings in vertebrates. Synthetic mouse TCAP-1 administered into the brachial basket significantly increases the incidence of non-stress contractile behaviors. These findings support the hypothesis that TCAP is a bioactive peptide in C. intestinalis. Thus, C. intestinalis and tunicates in general may offer a simple model to investigate peptide interaction while providing information on how to control this invasive species.
(Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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