The structure and membrane interaction of the antimicrobial peptide aurein 2.2 (GLFDIVKKVVGALGSL-CONH(2)), aurein 2.3 (GLFDIVKKVVGAIGSL-CONH(2)), both from Litoria aurea, and a carboxy C-terminal analog of aurein 2.3 (GLFDIVKKVVGAIGSL-COOH) were studied to determine which features of this class of peptides are key to activity. Circular dichroism and solution-state NMR data indicate that all thr...

The allatostatins are pleiotropic arthropod neuropeptides that are known to inhibit juvenile hormones in insects. Currently, there are three known families of allatostatins: A-type, B-type and C-type allatostatins (ASTs). CAST , which is characterized by the non-amidated C-terminal motif –PISCF, a pyroglutamine blocked N-terminus and a disulfide bridge between the Cys residues at position 7 and...

The expression of the potent vasoactive peptide neuropeptide Y (NPY) was studied in 16 clinically and/or histologically diagnosed human pheochromocytomas and 3 human neuroblastoma tumors. All tumors contained NPY in concentrations ranging from 21 pmol/g of tissue, similar to that found in normal adrenal tissue, to 91,000 pmol/g (median, 1,700 pmol/g). Three control tumors of Cushing's type did ...

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been amidated by hydrothermal treatment with different aliphatic amines. The amido groups modified on the surface of the SWCNTs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The electrooxidation of nitric oxide (NO) at the modified electrodes of amidated SWCNTs was investigated. The modified electrodes of amidated SWCNTs exhibited di...

Cellular synthesis of neuroendocrine peptides requires prohormone convertases (PCs). In order to determine the role of PC2 for gastrin synthesis, we examined antral extracts from mice lacking PC2 or its chaperone, 7B2. The overall concentrations of precursors and alpha-amidated gastrins were similar in all mice. Chromatography, however, revealed that while the K(53)-K(54) site was almost fully ...

Fish losses from infectious diseases are a significant problem in aquaculture worldwide. Therefore, we investigated the ability of cationic antimicrobial peptides to protect against infection caused by the fish pathogen Vibrio anguillarum. To identify effective peptides for fish, the MICs of certain antimicrobial peptides against fish pathogens were determined in vitro. Two of the most effectiv...

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are ancient molecules that can sense environmental and physiological signals. Currently, the majority of the predicted Caenorhabditis elegans GPCRs are orphan. Here, we describe the characterization of such an orphan C. elegans GPCR, which is categorized in the tachykinin-like group of receptors. Since the C. elegans genome predicts only one tachykinin-like p...

The antral hormone gastrin regulates gastric acid secretion and growth of the gastric mucosa (1 ). As a result of the elaborate cellular maturation process of progastrin, the antral G cells release a mixture of different acidstimulatory gastrins and other precursor fragments to the circulation (2 ). This mixture comprises gastrin-71, -52, -34, -17, -14, and -6, all of which are carboxyamidated ...