Biochemical, Anatomical, and Pharmacological Characterization of Calcitonin-Type Neuropeptides in Starfish: Discovery of an Ancient Role as Muscle Relaxants.

ABSTRACT: Calcitonin (CT) is a peptide hormone released by the thyroid gland that regulates blood Ca²⁺ levels in mammals. The CT gene is alternatively spliced, with one transcript encoding CT and another transcript encoding the CT-like neuropeptide calcitonin-gene related peptide (α-CGRP), which is a powerful vasodilator. Other CT-related peptides in vertebrates include adrenomedullin, amylin, and intermedin, which also act as smooth muscle relaxants. The evolutionary origin of CT-type peptides has been traced to the bilaterian common ancestor of protostomes and deuterostomes and a CT-like peptide (DH31) has been identified as a diuretic hormone in some insect species. However, little is known about the physiological roles of CT-type peptides in other invertebrates. Here we characterized

SUBMITTER: Cai W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6002491 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature