Bioactivity of NLP peptides of Ascaris suum

描述(申请人提供)：本提案中描述的研究旨在确定由4个不同基因编码的8个相关内源性神经肽家族的生物学作用。由一个基因编码的多肽已被证明对猪蛔虫肌肉具有非常强的抑制活性。我们建议对其余7个多肽的生物活性进行表征。我们还将确定制造每个肽的细胞(已识别的神经元或非神经细胞)，以及每个肽的受体位置。我们还将通过电生理方法研究每种多肽的作用机制。有初步迹象表明，这些多肽中至少有一种可能在肠道中表达。我们将彻底探索这一假设，因为它为抗线虫药物提出了一个潜在的新靶点，更有趣的是，给药的另一种途径不需要渗透到线虫的内部组织空间。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The research described in this proposal aims at determining the biological role of a family of 8 related endogenous neuropeptides, encoded by 4 different genes in A. suum. The peptide encoded by one gene has been shown to have very potent inhibitory activity on Ascaris suum muscle. We propose to characterize the biological activity of the remaining 7 peptides. We will also identify the cells (identified neurons, or non-neural cells) which make each peptide, and the site of the receptors for each peptide. We will also study the mechanism of action of each peptide by electrophysiological methods. There are preliminary indications that at least one of these peptides may be expressed in the intestine. We will thoroughly explore this hypothesis, since it suggests a potential new target for anti-nematode drugs, and, even more interesting, a different route for administration of drugs that would not necessitate penetration into the interior tissue space of the nematode.