This book provides the most up-to-date information on the ever-growing class of peptides with high biological activity, which function as hormones or neurotransmitters and have analogous structures. These peptides include the Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP), the Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptides (PACAP 38 and PACAP 27), the Peptide Histidyl-Isoleucylamide and the Histidyl-Methionine Peptide (PHI and PHM), Helodermin, Helospectin, the Growth Hormone Releasing Factor (GRF), Glucagon, the Glucagon-like Peptides I and II, Oxyntomodulin, Glicentin and Secretin.
Selection, organization and special subject matter: The contributors to this volume who are leading experts in their fields, present a valuable synopsis of the significant research in the transduction of the peptide signals, and how it helps to maintain the essential environment for cellular functions and adaptation. Contributions are organized around the molecular systems involved in the normal and altered functions of the central nervous system, the endocrine systems and cellular proliferation. In addition, the book identifies potential sites to be targeted for drug design and therapeutic development in the domain of biosynthesis, inflammation and cardiovascular and digestive diseases.
This book draws together information from widely-scattered literature and thus obviates the need for time-consuming research on the part of the readers. It is aimed at an international audience of pharmacologists, physiologists, clinical investigators, biochemists and researchers.
Contents:
- Biosynthesis and Structure-Function:
- Biosynthesis and Processing of PACAP and Characterization of Its Receptors (A Arimura & H Onda)
- Expression of a VIP-Beta Galactosidase Transgene (P J Tolentino et al.)
- Receptors:
- G-Proteins and Membrane Transduction: A New Model (M Rodbell)
- Molecular Cloning and Functional Expression of the Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) Type I Receptor (J R Pisegna & S A Wank)
- Neuronal Functions:
- VIP Neurons in the Cerebral Cortex: Promiscuous Cells with Homeostatic Functions (P J Magistretti et al.)
- Met-Enkephalin and Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide Modulate Guanine Nucleotide Regulated Proteins in the Caudate Nucleus of the Rat (S Drescher & A Moser)
- Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Functions:
- Sudden and Sequential Activation of Adenyl Cyclase, Immediate Early and Tyrosine Hydroxylase Genes in Primary Chromaffin Cell Cultures Transiently Exposed to PACAP (R A Rius et al.)
- Distribution and Neuroendocrine Actions of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) in Amphibians (L Yon et al.)
- Clinical Relevance:
- Potential Role of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide and Related Peptides in Starvation and Endurance Exercise (A M O'Connor et al.)
- Effects of PACAP and VIP on the Isolated Rat Heart (I Bäsler et al.)
- Cellular Proliferation:
- The Role of GRF Receptor in Pituitary Cell Proliferation (C-R Lin et al.)
- Use of the Multiple Trans-Activation Properties of SV40 Large T and Small t Antigens to Understand Regulation of Growth Responsive Genes (M R Loeken)
- Immune System:
- Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) and Related Peptides: A New Class of Anti-Inflammatory Agents? (H Pakbaz et al.)
- and other papers
Readership: Pharmacologists, physiologists, clinical investigators, biochemists and biomedical researchers.
