Re. Vankesteren et al., COEVOLUTION OF LIGAND-RECEPTOR PAIRS IN THE VASOPRESSIN OXYTOCIN SUPERFAMILY OF BIOACTIVE PEPTIDES, The Journal of biological chemistry, 271(7), 1996, pp. 3619-3626
In order to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie the co-e
volution of related yet functionally distinct peptide-receptor pairs,
we study receptors for the vasopressin-related peptide Lys-conopressin
in the mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis, In addition to a previously cloned
Lys-conopressin receptor (LSCPR1), we have now identified a novel Lys-
conopressin receptor subtype, named LSCPR2. The two receptors have a d
ifferential distribution in the reproductive organs and the brain, whi
ch suggests that they are involved in the control of distinct aspects
of reproduction and mediate transmitter-like and/or modulatory effects
of Lys-conopressin on different types of central neurons. In contrast
to LSCPR1, LSCPR2 is maximally activated by both Lys-conopressin and
Ile-conopressin, an oxytocin-like synthetic analog of Lys-conopressin.
Together with a study of the phylogenetic relationships of Lys-conopr
essin receptors and their vertebrate counterparts, these data suggest
that LSCPR2 represents an ancestral receptor to the vasopressin/oxytoc
in receptor family in the vertebrates, Based on our findings, we provi
de a theory of the molecular co-evolution of the functionally distinct
ligand-receptor pairs of the vasopressin/oxytocin superfamily of bioa
ctive peptides.