Neuropeptides and their receptors of the protochordate, Ciona intestinalis: The evolutionary origin of vertebrate neuropeptides

Satake, H. and Aoyama, M. and Kawada, T. and Sekiguchi, T. and Sakai, T. and Fujie, M. and Satoh, Nori (2008) Neuropeptides and their receptors of the protochordate, Ciona intestinalis: The evolutionary origin of vertebrate neuropeptides. Acta Biologica Hungarica, 59 (Supple). pp. 237-239. ISSN 0236-5383

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Abstract

Ci-TK and Ci-TK-R are authentic tachykinin (TK) and TK receptor isolated from a protochordate, Ciona intestinalis . In this study, we investigated a novel function of TK as an enhancer of oocyte growth. Ci-TK-R is expressed specifically in the Ciona vitellogenic oocytes. Moreover, administration of Ci-TK to the Ciona ovary resulted in upregulation of gene expression and enzymatic activity of several proteases. Moreover, maturation of the Ciona oocytes from the vitellogenic stage to the post-vitellogenic stage was induced in the presence of Ci-TK, which was completely blocked by addition of protease inhibitors.

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