Radioimmunoassay for the tachykinin peptide physalaemin: detection of a physalaemin-like substance in rabbit stomach.
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The effects of the non-mammalian tachykinin physalaemin were studied on the short circuit current (SCC) and on both influx (Ji) and outflux (Jo) of 36Cl- and 22Na+ across the isolated skin of Rana esculenta. Physalaemin, added to the internal bathing fluid, increased SCC in a dose-dependent manner with a maximal effect at 1 microM. This increase was due to a stimulation of both Na+ absorption and Cl- secretion. Bumetanide (20 microM in the internal fluid), an inhibitor of the Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter, reduced the action of physalaemin on SCC by 46%. Furthermore diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid (DPC, 0.1 mM in the external fluid), an inhibitor of Cl- channels, decreased the effect of the peptide on SCC by 48%. It is concluded that physalaemin activates the Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter at the basolateral membrane, accumulating Cl- in the cells and favouring its exit through Cl- channels at the outermost membrane of the epithelium. An inhibitor of cyclooxygenases, i.e. naproxen, strongly inhibited the physalaemin effect on SCC, whereas 5,8,11-eicosatriynoic acid (ETI), an inhibitor of lipooxygenases was without effect. Therefore, it is proposed that prostaglandins (probably PGE2) are the cellular mediators of this action. An antagonist of NK1 receptors for tachykinins, CP 99,994, inhibited the physalaemin action on SCC, whereas challenge with SR 48,968, an antagonist of NK2 receptors, had no effect on physalaemin action. It is concluded that physalaemin effect on SCC in frog skin is mediated by its interaction with NK1 receptors.
The binding of [125I]physalaemin to rat brain slices was investigated. Radiolabeled physalaemin bound with high affinity (Kd = 0.3 nM) to a single class of sites (Bmax = 22 fmol/mg protein). Kinetic studies indicated that binding was time-dependent and all specific binding was reversible. Pharmacology studies indicated that specific [125I]physalaemin binding was inhibited by structurally related peptides such as substance P and eledoisin. Biochemical studies indicated that specific binding of radiolabeled physalaemin was greatly reduced if the brain slices were pretreated with heat, trypsin or N-ethyl maleimide. Autoradiographic studies indicated that the [125I]physalaemin binding sites were discretely distributed throughout the brain. Highest grain densities were present in the olfactory bulb, dentate gyrus, amygdala, superficial layers of the superior colliculus, subiculum, dorsal parabrachial nucleus, locus coeruleus, nucleus tractus solitarii and dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Moderate grain densities were present in the nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, pyriform cortex, striatum, hippocampus, inferior colliculus and central gray of the midbrain. Low grain densities were present in most thalamic nuclei, the substantia nigra and cerebellum. The corpus callosum and controls treated with 1 microM unlabeled physalaemin had negligible levels of binding. The unique pharmacological and regional distribution data obtained suggest that [125I]physalaemin may serve as a valuable probe to study central substance P receptors.
The effects of physalaemin on thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and thyrotropin (TSH) secretion were studied in rats. Physalaemin (150 micrograms/kg) was injected iv, and the rats were serially decapitated. TRH, TSH and thyroid hormone were measured by radioimmunoassay. The hypothalamic immunoreactive TRH (ir-TRH) contents increased significantly after physalaemin injection, whereas its plasma concentrations tended to decrease, but not significantly. The plasma TSH levels decreased significantly in a dose-related manner with a nadir at 30 min. The plasma ir-TRH and TSH responses to cold were inhibited by physalaemin, but the plasma TSH response to TRH was not affected. The plasma thyroid hormone levels did not change significantly. In the pimozide- or para-chlorophenylalanine-pretreated group, the inhibitory effect of physalaemin on TSH levels was prevented, but not in the L-DOPA- or 5-hydroxytryptophan-pretreated group. These drugs alone did not affect plasma TSH levels in terms of the dose used. The inactivation of TRH immunoreactivity by the hypothalamus or plasma in vitro after physalaemin injection did not differ from that of the control. These findings suggest that physalaemin acts on the hypothalamus to inhibit TRH release, and its effects are at least partially modified by amines of the central nervous system.
Physalaemin has been reported as one of the most potent vasodilator and hypotensive peptides (1-4). In spite of these studies, however, the effect of the peptide on splanchnic circulation is not known precisely. In the present study, the effect of synthetic physalaemin on superior mesenteric arterial blood flow, portal venous blood flow and pancreatic capillary blood flow was investigated in dogs. Dose dependent increases of superior mesenteric arterial blood flow and portal venous blood flow were induced in response to physalaemin (0.1-10.0 ng/kg). Superior mesenteric arterial blood flow and portal venous blood flow attained maximal increases of 77 +/- 8.9% and 70 +/- 8.6%, respectively, at a dose of 5 ng/kg. Physalaemin caused a dose-related decrease in systemic arterial blood pressure. Pancreatic capillary blood flow did not show significant change with the administration of physalaemin. These data suggest that physalaemin may play some physiological roles in the regulation of splanchnic circulation.
Substance P (SP) belongs to a group of peptides called tachykinins. Biological effects of SP are mediated by tachykinin receptors that have been classified as neurokinin-1 (NK-1), NK-2 and NK-3 subtypes. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the tachykinin receptor subtype(s) that mediate the excitatory effects of SP in the carotid body. For this purpose, we compared the carotid body responses elicited by SP with that of physalaemin and eledoisin. In other tissues, physalaemin exhibits equi or greater potency at NK-1 receptors and eledoisin exerts its effects more on NK-2 and NK-3 subtypes compared to SP. Experiments were performed on eight cats that were anaesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated with room air. Close carotid body administration of SP and physalaemin produced dose-dependent augmentation of the chemoreceptor afferent activity. Chemoreceptor discharge, however, was unaffected by eledoisin. Compared to that by SP, the magnitude of excitation produced by physalaemin was the same at lower doses but significantly greater with the highest dose (100 nmol). The time course of the response induced by physalaemin, however, was the same as that by SP. The present results demonstrate that in the carotid body physalaemin is also either equi or relatively more potent than SP, whereas eledoisin has no effect on the chemoreceptor discharge. It is suggested that stimulation of the carotid body by SP is mediated by NK-1 but not NK-2 or NK-3 receptors.
We have prepared 125I-labeled physalaemin and have examined the kinetics, stoichiometry, and chemical specificity with which the labeled peptide binds to dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. Binding of 125I-labeled physalaemin was saturable, temperature-dependent, and reversible and reflected interaction of the labeled peptide with a single class of binding sites on the plasma membrane of pancreatic acinar cells. Each acinar cell possessed approximately 500 binding sites, and binding of the tracer to these sites could be inhibited by physalaemin [concentration for half-maximal effect (Kd), 2 nM], substance P (Kd, 5 nM), or eledoisin (Kd, 300 nM) but not by cholecystokinin, caerulein, bombesin, litorin, gastrin, secretin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, glucagon, somatostatin, neurotensin, bovine pancreatic polypeptide, leucine-enkephalin, methionine-enkephalin, atropine, or carbamylcholine. With physalaemin, substance P, and eledoisin, there was a close correlation between the relative potency for inhibition of binding of labeled physalaemin and that for stimulation of amylase secretion. For a given peptide, however, a 3-fold higher concentration was required for half-maximal inhibition of binding than for half-maximal stimulation of amylase secretion, calcium outflux, or cyclic GMP accumulation. These results indicate that dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas possess a single class of receptors that interact with physalaemin, substance P, and eledoisin and that occupation of 45% of these receptors will cause a maximal biological response.
Two new cyclic analogues of physalaemin were designed on the basis of the conformation found in DMSO solution. Glp-Ala-cyclo(-Asp-Pro-Asn-Lys-)-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2 (1) was synthesized by cyclization of physalaemin. In 2 the Asp residue was replaced by Glu. The linear analogue of 2 was synthesized by the solid phase method and subsequently cyclized. Two-dimensional nmr methods were employed to assign the proton and carbon resonances. Proton-proton distances were extracted from rotating frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectra and used as restraints in the molecular dynamics calculations. Analogue 1 was found to have a similar conformation as physalaemin, whereas 2 did not form intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The pharmacological evaluation revealed that both peptides have similar potencies as physalaemin in the dog carotid artery (NK-1 receptor). Therefore, the charged side chains of physalaemin appear not essential for NK-1 activation. However, the other tachykinin receptors show good sensitivity to the cyclic peptides. It is concluded that the replacement of a salt bridge by an amide bond connecting the side chains of natural residues might provide useful information about the biological significance of some charged side chains of neurokinins.
The effect of physalaemin, an undecapeptide belonging to a family known collectively as the tachykinins, on water and electrolyte excretion of the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands of the rat has been investigated and compared to that of acetylcholine. Drugs were administered intravenously or by close-arterial infusion. Physalaemin is a powerful stimulant of fluid secretion by both glands although less potent than acetylcholine. The Na and K excretion patterns in physalaemin-evoked saliva resembled, but were by no means identical to those evoked by acetylcholine and other parasympathomimetic drugs: saliva evoked by physalaemin was considerably poorer in Na and K at all secretory rates. The HCO3 excretion curves, on the other hand, seemed to be identical to those evoked by parasympathomimetic drugs. From an analysis of the Na and K excretion patterns, it can be concluded, both for the mandibular and the sublingual glands, that physalaemin stimulated Na reabsorption and K secretion across the gland duct epitheluim, whereas acetylcholine has the opposite effect. These findings agree nicely with what has previously been demonstrated in vitro in the isolated perfused main excretory duct of the rat mandibular gland.
The mammalian tachykinins, substance P and neurokinin A, and the non-mammalian tachykinin, physalaemin, were tested on functionally identified dorsal horn neurones in vivo. The experiments were done on cats which were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbital or were anaemically decerebrated. Extracellular single-unit recordings were made in the lumbar spinal cord and the tachykinins were applied by iontophoresis. Each neurone was classified functionally as wide dynamic range, non-nociceptive, nociceptive specific or proprioceptive. The response to tachykinin application was determined for each neurone. Application of each of the tachykinins evoked a characteristic excitatory response which was delayed in onset, slow in developing and prolonged: physalaemin excited 99/131 neurones tested, neurokinin A excited 45/63 neurones and substance P excited 32/49 neurones. With two neurones physalaemin evoked a depression of the rate of firing, which may have been caused indirectly by excitation of a neighbouring neurone. Such depression was not elicited by either substance P or by neurokinin A. Physalaemin had a preferential excitatory effect on nociceptive neurones evoking excitation of 76/94 nociceptive neurones compared with 12/23 non-nociceptive neurones (chi 2 = 7.9, 1 d.f., P = 0.005). Substance P also caused a preferential excitation, with 30/40 nociceptive neurones being excited while all of the non-nociceptive neurones (n = 7) were unaffected (chi 2 = 11.5, 1 d.f., P = 0.0007). In contrast, neurokinin A failed to have a preferential effect; 32/46 nociceptive and 9/10 non-nociceptive neurones were excited (chi 2 = 1.0, 1 d.f., P = 0.40). Comparing the proportions of nociceptive neurones excited by the different tachykinins indicated that this type of neurone was not differently sensitive to any of the three peptides (chi 2 = 3.2, 2 d.f., P = 0.20). On the other hand, non-nociceptive neurones were preferentially excited by neurokinin A and physalaemin compared with substance P (chi 2 = 13.4, 2 d.f., P = 0.001). With regard to the endogenous tachykinins the results of this study may be interpreted in the following ways. The differential excitatory effect of substance P on nociceptive neurones supports the proposed role for this peptide in the transmission specifically of nociceptive inputs at the first afferent synapse. On the other hand, as neurokinin A excited non-nociceptive as well as nociceptive neurones, there may be a functional role for neurokinin A distinct from that of substance P.
A determination of the solution conformational behavior of two tachykinins, substance P and physalaemin, is described. Two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn (HOHAHA) and rotating-frame cross relaxation spectroscopy (ROESY) are used to obtain complete proton resonance assignments. Interproton distance restraints obtained from ROESY spectroscopy are used to characterize the conformational behavior. These data show that in solution both substance P and physalaemin exist in a mixture of conformational states, rather than as a single three-dimensional structure. In water both peptides prefer to be in an extended chain structure. In methanol, their behavior is described as a mixture of beta-turn conformations in dynamic equilibrium. Solvent titration data and chemical shift temperature coefficients complement the NMR estimate of interproton distances by locating hydrogen bonds and serving to identify predominant conformational states. The C-terminal tetrapeptide segment has the same conformational behavior for both substance P and physalaemin. In physalaemin, the midsegment of the peptide may also be constrained by formation of a salt bridge. The conformational behavior of substance P and physalaemin is discussed in relation to potency and receptor binding properties.
Immunoreactivity to the amphibian peptide physalaemin was characterized from extracts of a human lung small-cell carcinoma by immunological, chemical, and pharmacological means. Tumor-related peptide cross-reacted with three antiserums to physalaemin to yield 1.1 to 1.6 nanomoles per gram of tissue. Physalaemin and tumor peptide had similar retention times on high-performance liquid chromatography after chemical and enzymic modifications that included pH changes, oxone oxidation, use of a hydrophilic ion-pairing reagent, and digestion with trypsin and pyroglutamate aminopeptidase. Both physalaemin and the tumor peptide produced a contractile response of isolated guinea pig ileum at threshold concentrations of approximately 100 to 150 picograms per milliliter. These data suggest that small-cell carcinoma of the lung contains a physalaemin-like peptide that has structural and biological homology to its amphibian counterpart.
Physalaemin (Mr = 1284) is a potent undecapeptide from the skin of South American frogs. The amino acid sequence of the COOH-terminal region of this peptide is similar to that of substance P. An antiserum specific for the NH2-terminal sequence of physalaemin enabled the quantitation and localization of physalaemin-like immunoreactivity (PSLI) in mammalian tissues. PSLI is found in acid extracts of whole trachea from rat, rabbit, and guinea pig and in the tracheal mucosal layer in the dog, cow, and pig. The concentration determined by radioimmunoassay ranged from 1 to 15 ng/g dry weight of tissue, with rat trachea containing the highest amount. Gel filtration of an extract of rabbit trachea on Bio-Gel P-4 revealed a single peak of immunoreactivity that had an approximate Mr of 1700, similar to that detected in extracts of guinea pig and rabbit stomach. In contrast to amphibian physalaemin, mammalian PSLI 1) has a higher molecular weight, 2) is resistant to alpha-chymotrypsin or trypsin digestion, 3) elutes earlier from a C18 alkylsilane resin with increasing concentrations of methanol, and 4) can be separated from physalaemin by thin-layer chromatography. These data indicate that the mammalian PSLI is different in structure from the amphibian peptide.
The postulated existence of different types of tachykinin receptor in the spinal cord provided the basis for the present study; substance P, neurokinin A, eledoisin and physalaemin were administered intrathecally in the awake, restrained rat to compare their effects on reaction time in the tail-flick test. Each peptide was delivered via a chronically implanted subdural catheter to the lower lumbar vertebral level of the spinal cord. Intrathecal administration of 10 micrograms of substance P (6.5 nmol), eledoisin (8.0 nmol) or physalaemin (7.9 nmol) decreased the reaction time, respectively, to 22.5, 24.3 and 20.8% of the mean preadministration control values at 1 min after injection; similar administration of 6.5 nmol of neurokinin A produced a smaller decrease in reaction time, to only 49.5% of preadministration values. These effects were transient, the reaction times returning to preadministration values within 5 min. Each peptide also produced an initial vocalization followed by increased restlessness. Analysis of the dose-response curves indicated that the rank order of potency of the fitted curves for these peptides was physalaemin greater than or equal to substance P greater than or equal to eledoisin greater than neurokinin A. The results suggest that the receptor involved in facilitation of the tail-flick reflex resembles a substance P receptor rather than a receptor for one of the other endogenous neurokinins and that this receptor may bear some resemblance to the SP-P type postulated to exist in peripheral tissues.
The three-dimensional structure of physalaemin, pGlu-Ala-Asp-Pro-Asn-Lys-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2, has been studied by one- and two-dimensional 500 MHz NMR spectroscopies in two solvents: methanol and dimethyl sulfoxide. As previously observed for substance P in methanol, the core of physalaemin 4----8 is folded into an helical conformation. This structure is stabilized by the presence of a salt bridge between Asp-3 and Lys-6 in both solvents. The only differences observed reside in the N-terminal sequences; the N-terminal tripeptide of substance is flexible whereas that of physalaemin is in an extended conformation.
The ontogeny of the antidipsogenic effect of the tachykinins eledoisin and physalaemin was studied in 1- to 12-day-old Wistar rats. Both peptides inhibited drinking evoked by ICV angiotensin II, cell-dehydration or fluid deprivation. The effect of eledoisin appeared earlier than that of physalaemin (third v. sixth day) and was evoked by lower doses (10-100 ng/rat vs 330-1000 ng rat). The two tachykinins also inhibited milk intake, but this effect occurred only in the earliest days of neonatal life. The results confirm the specificity of the antitipsogenic effect of eledoisin and physalaemin and give further support to the hypothesis that brain tachykinins play a physiological role in the control of fluid intake.