A proGDNF-related peptide BEP increases synaptic excitation in rat hippocampus

Tiina Immonen; Anniina Alakuijala; Marjo Hytönen; Kirsi Sainio; Dmitry Poteryaev; Mart Saarma; Michael Pasternack; Hannu Sariola

doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2007.12.018

A proGDNF-related peptide BEP increases synaptic excitation in rat hippocampus

Exp Neurol. 2008 Apr;210(2):793-6. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2007.12.018. Epub 2008 Jan 4.

Authors

Tiina Immonen¹, Anniina Alakuijala, Marjo Hytönen, Kirsi Sainio, Dmitry Poteryaev, Mart Saarma, Michael Pasternack, Hannu Sariola

Affiliation

¹ Department of Medical Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, P.O.Box 63, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. tiina.immonen@helsinki.fi

PMID: 18280470
DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2007.12.018

Abstract

The glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) precursor contains several putative sites for prohormone convertase-mediated excision of short peptides. Here, we show that one of the predicted peptides, named BEP (brain excitatory peptide), induces a substantial increase in the synaptic excitability in rat CA1 pyramidal neurons. The excitation is sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide, suggesting involvement of a G-protein-coupled receptor.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Animals, Newborn
Electric Stimulation / methods
Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / pharmacology
Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / chemistry
Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / pharmacology*
Hippocampus / cytology*
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Kainic Acid / pharmacology
Patch-Clamp Techniques / methods
Peptide YY / pharmacology
Peptides / pharmacology*
Protein Binding / drug effects
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Synapses / drug effects*
Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
Synaptic Transmission / physiology*

Substances

Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists
Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Peptides
Peptide YY
Kainic Acid