Coexistence of peptides with classical neurotransmitters

Summary In the present article the fact is emphasized that neuropeptides often are located in the same neurons as classical transmitters such as acetylcholine, 5-hydroxy-tryptamine, catecholamines, -aminobutyric acid (GABA) etc. This raises the possibility that neurons produce, store and release more than the one messenger molecule. The exact functional role of such coesisting peptides is often difficult to evaluate, especially in the central nervous system. In the periphery some studies indicate apparently meaningful interactions of different types with the classical transmitter, but other types of actions including trophic effects have been observed. More recently it has been shown that some neurons contain more than one classical transmitter, e.g. 5-HT plus GABA, further underlining the view that transfer of information across synapses may be more compex than perhaps hitherto assumed.     

Temporins, anti-infective peptides with expanding properties

Antimicrobial peptides are effector molecules of the innate immune response of all pluricellular organisms, providing them with first-line defence against pathogens. Amphibian skin secretions represent one of the richest natural sources for such peptide antibiotics, and temporins, a large family of antimicrobial peptides from frog skin, are among the smallest ones found in nature to date. Their functional role and modes of action have been described, along with their interesting and unique properties. These properties make temporins good molecules for an in-depth understanding of host defence peptides in general. Furthermore, they are attractive templates for the future design of new therapeutics against infectious diseases with new modes of action, urgently needed due to the increasing resistance of microorganisms to the available drugs. Received 8 November 2005; received after revision 19 December 2005; accepted 18 January 2006     

Calcium channel modulation by beta-adrenergic neurotransmitters in the heart

Calcium ions play a crucial role in the regulation of the heart beat. During each action potential Ca2+ ions flow into the cell and are directly and indirectly involved in generation of pacemaker potentials and of contractile force. Adrenergic and cholinergic neurotransmitters modulate Ca2+ influx. The most detailed analysis has been made on the mechanism of the beta-adrenergic effect on calcium channels in cardiac cell membranes. This is briefly summarized in a personal account, while for more detailed information the reader is referred to more extensive recent reviews.     

The prolactin releasing peptides: RF-amide peptides

Although dopamine is considered the major hypothalamic controller of prolactin release from the anterior pituitary gland, there is evidence that a yet to be discovered prolactin releasing factor (PRF) also exists in brain. Recently, two peptides were isolated, products of the same prohormone, that were reported to have significant prolactin-releasing activity. These peptides, called prolactin releasing peptides, are not accepted by all investigators to be in fact PRFs. Instead, it appears that their widespread distribution in brain and the presence of receptors for the peptides in sites unrelated to neuroendocrine function are the basis for a variety of central nervous system action including activation of the autonomic nervous system. Thus, these peptides may not be PRFs, but instead neuroactive agents that are involved in many brain circuits with divergent functions.     

Synthetic peptides related to eledoisin. Physalaemin-like peptides

Riassunto Vengono riportate le proprietà di una serie di peptidi sintetici affini per struttura alla fisalemina.     

Steroidal peptides

Zusammenfassung Es wird die Möglichkeit erwogen, dass Steroide mit geeignet gebauten Peptidseitenketten am Aufbau oder Transport von Hormonen beteiligt sein könnten. Über die erstmalige Darstellung von Steroidpeptiden wird berichtet. Als Beispiele werden die Synthesen der beiden geschützten Steroidpeptide III und IV beschrieben.

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Part XXIV of a series entitledSteroids and Related Natural Products. For the preceding contribution see:J. P. Kutney, W. Cretney, G. R. Pettit, andJ. C. Knight, Tetrahedron, in press.

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A preliminary report of this study was presented (April 9, 1964) at the Third International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products, Kyoto (Japan).

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This investigation was supported by National Science Foundation Research Grant GB-249.     

On classical cloning and no-cloning

It is part of information theory folklore that, while quantum theory prohibits the generic (or universal) cloning of states, such cloning is allowed by classical information theory. Indeed, many take the phenomenon of no-cloning to be one of the features that distinguishes quantum mechanics from classical mechanics. In this paper, we argue that pace conventional wisdom, in the case where one does not include a machine system, there is an analog of the no-cloning theorem for classical systems. However, upon adjoining a non-trivial machine system (or ancilla) one finds that, pace the quantum case, the obstruction to cloning disappears for pure states. We begin by discussing some conceptual points and category-theoretic generalities having to do with cloning, and proceed to discuss no-cloning in both the case of (non-statistical) classical mechanics and classical statistical mechanics.     

Newton and the classical theory of probability

Summary Probabilistic ideas and methods from Newton's writings are discussed in § 1: Newton's ideas pertaining to the definition of probability, his probabilistic method in chronology, his probabilistic ideas and method in the theory of errors and his probabilistic reasonings on the system of the world. Newton's predecessors and his influence upon subsequent scholars are dealt with in §2: beginning with his predecessors the discussion continues with his contemporaries Arbuthnot and De Moiver, then Bentley. The section ends with Laplace, whose determinism is seen as a development of the Newtonian determinism.An addendum is devoted to Lambert's reasoning on randomness and to the influence of Darwin on statistics. A synopsis is attached at the end of the article.Abbreviations PT abridged Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 1665–1800 abridged. London, 1809 - Todhunter I. Todhunter, History of the mathematical theory of probability, Cambridge, 1865 To the memory of my mother, Sophia Sheynin (1900–1970)     

On broken symmetries and classical systems

Baker (2011) argues that broken symmetries pose a number of puzzles for the interpretation of quantum theories—puzzles which he claims do not arise in classical theories. I provide examples of classical cases of symmetry breaking and show that they have precisely the same features that Baker finds puzzling in quantum theories. To the extent that Baker is correct that the classical cases pose no puzzles, the features of the quantum case that Baker highlights should not be puzzling either.     

Beyond natural antimicrobial peptides: multimeric peptides and other peptidomimetic approaches

Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) present several drawbacks that strongly limit their development into therapeutically valuable antibiotics. These include susceptibility to protease degradation and high costs of manufacture. To overcome these problems, researchers have tried to develop mimics or peptidomimetics endowed with better properties, while retaining the basic features of membrane-active natural AMPs such as cationic charge and amphipathic design. Protein epitope mimetics, multimeric (dendrimeric) peptides, oligoacyllysines, ceragenins, synthetic lipidated peptides, peptoids and other foldamers are some of the routes explored so far. The synthetic approach has led to compounds that have already entered clinical evaluation for the treatment of specific conditions, such as Staphylococcus (MRSA) infections. Should these trials be successful, an important proof-of-concept would be established, showing that synthetic oligomers rather than naturally occurring molecules could bring peptide-based antibiotics to clinical practice and the drug market for local and systemic treatment of medical conditions associated with multi-drug resistant pathogens.     

Physiological activities of gluconyl peptides

Zusammenfassung d-gluconyl--aminocapronsäure und andere Glyconylpeptide wirken als Anticoagulans durch Hemmung der Fibrinbildung aus Fibrinogen, hämolysieren rote Blutkörperchen und haben einen bakteriostatischen Effekt. Es handelt sich möglicherweise um eine Wirkung auf Glukoproteine mit Austausch von Kohlenhydratkomponenten; Zugabe von -Aminocapronsäure ist imstande, die Wirkung aufzuheben.     

Intracellular peptides of escherichia coli

Zusammenfassung Mittels Papierchromatographie und Hochspannungselektrophorese konnten in Trichloressigsäureextrakten vonE. coli 3–8 Aminosäuren enthaltende Peptide isoliert werden, in denen am häufigsten Glutaminsäure, Glycin, Cystein, Lysin, Asparagin und Alanin vorkommt.     

Lack of effect of neurotransmitters on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in an insect CNS

Summary The inhibition of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from the nerve cord ofManduca sexta was studied using theophylline as a model compound. 11 putative neurotransmitters had no effect on enzyme activity.Supported in part by NIH grant NS-09161-20 to R. W. Newburgh     

Cyclotides: macrocyclic peptides with applications in drug design and agriculture

Cyclotides are disulfide-rich peptides from plants that are exceptionally stable as a result of their unique cyclic cystine knot structural motif. Their natural role is thought to be as plant defence agents, most notably against insect pests, but they also have potential applications in drug design and agriculture. This article identifies gaps in current knowledge on cyclotides and suggests future directions for research into this fascinating family of ultra-stable mini-proteins.     

Structure and activity of corticotrophic peptides: Synthesis and biological activity of two corticotrophic peptides with neutral amino acids in positions 17 and 18

Zusammenfassung [D-Ser¹, Nva^17,18]--Corticotropin-(1-19)-nonadecapeptidamid Xa und [D-Ser¹, Nle^17,18]--Corticotropin-(1-19)-nonadecapeptidamid Xb wurden synthetisiert und ihre biologischen Aktivitäten diskutiert.     

Coexistence of neoteny and an internal cycle a polystomatid (Monogenea)]

Metapolystoma cachani a parasite of Ptychadena longirostris (Peters) has been discovered in the Ivory coast. Its life cycle is the first to involve both the possibility of an internal cycle in the bladder of the adult Amphibian and a neotenical reproduction on the gills of the Tadpole. This double process is the link between the Monogeneans which are only parasites of aquatic hosts and those which are adapted to terrestrial hosts. Its place is therefore essential in the phylogeny of Polystomatidae.