Molecular pharmacology of receptors for calcitonin-gene-related peptide, amylin and adrenomedullin.

Introduction Calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a 37-amino acid neuropeptide which was first identified in 1982 as a product of the calcitonin gene derived by alternative splicing [ 11. This original peptide is now referred to as a-CGRP; a second gene, unrelated to calcitonin, produces P-CGRP [2]. These two forms are closely related in both rat and man (Figure l ) , and are widely distributed throughout most parts of the nervous system. CGRP shares about 50% identity with another 37-amino acid peptide, amylin. This was first isolated from pancreatic amyloid plaques