Isolation and characterization of novel tachykinins from the posterior salivary gland of the common octopus Octopus vulgaris

Peptides. 2003 Jan;24(1):35-43. doi: 10.1016/s0196-9781(02)00274-7.

Abstract

Two novel tachykinins (OctTK-I: Lys-Pro-Pro-Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Phe-Ile-Gly-Leu-Met-NH(2) and OctTK-II: Lys-Pro-Pro-Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Phe-Val-Gly-Leu-Met-NH(2)) were isolated from the posterior salivary gland of the octopus (Octopus vulgaris) using a contraction assay of the carp rectum. These peptides had in common the pentapeptide sequence -Phe-X-Gly-Leu-Met-NH(2) at the C-terminal and induced immediate contractions on the carp rectum and the guinea-pig ileum. cDNAs encoding their precursor proteins were cloned. The OctTK gene was expressed in the posterior salivary gland and the expression was localized in mucus-secreting cells of the gland. The results suggested that OctTKs might be secreted as a venomous substance acting on vertebrates such as fishes, which are the prey or natural enemies of the octopus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Octopodiformes
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Salivary Glands / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Tachykinins / chemistry
  • Tachykinins / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Tachykinins