At the transition from invertebrates to vertebrates, a novel GnRH-like peptide emerges in amphioxus.

ABSTRACT: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a critical reproductive regulator in vertebrates. Homologous peptides are also found in invertebrates, with a variety of characterized functions. In the amphioxus, an invertebrate that provides the best model for the transition to vertebrates, four GnRH receptors (GnRHRs) were previously described, but their native ligands were not identified. Using a more sensitive search methodology with hidden Markov models, we identified the first GnRH-like peptide confirmed in the amphioxus Branchiostoma floridae. This peptide specifically activated one of the four GnRHRs. Although the primary structure of this peptide was divergent from any previously isolated GnRH peptide, the minimal conserved residues found in all other GnRH superfamily members were retaine

SUBMITTER: Roch GJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3969558 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature