RT Book, Section
A1 Nestler, Eric J.
A1 Kenny, Paul J.
A1 Russo, Scott J.
A1 Schaefer, Anne
SR Print(0)
ID 1174973756
T1 Neuropeptides
T2 Nestler, Hyman & Malenka’s Molecular Neuropharmacology: A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience, 4e
YR 2020
FD 2020
PB McGraw-Hill
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260456905
LK neurology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1174973756
RD 2024/04/25
AB KEY  CONCEPTSNeuropeptides  are  small  proteins  or  polypeptides  that  serve  as  neurotransmitters  in  the  nervous  system.  Other  signaling  peptides  such  as  growth  factors  and  cytokines  are  considered  to  be  distinct  even  though  they  may  have  some  overlapping  functions.Like  the  monoamines  and  acetylcholine,  neuropeptide  transmitters  serve  primarily  modulatory  roles  in  the  nervous  system.The  synthesis  of  neuropeptides,  like  that  of  all  proteins,  requires  the  transcription  of  DNA  and  translation  of  the  resulting  messenger  RNA  (mRNA)  into  protein.Neuropeptides  are  synthesized  as  large  precursor  prepropeptides  that  undergo  extensive  posttranslational  processing,  which  includes  cleavages  into  smaller  peptides  and  enzymatic  modification.  The  “pre”  refers  to  an  N-terminal  signal  sequence  that  directs  newly  synthesized  peptides  into  the  regulated  secretory  pathway.As  a  result  of  alternative  RNA  splicing  and  differential  cleavage  of  propeptides  in  different  tissues,  a  single  gene  can  give  rise  to  diverse  signaling  peptides  with  distinct  functions.Unlike  small–molecule  neurotransmitters,  which  are  packaged  in  small  synaptic  vesicles,  neuropeptides  are  generally  packaged  in  large  dense  core  vesicles;  both  types  of  vesicles  may  be  found  in  the  same  neuron.Neuropeptides  may  diffuse  for  relatively  long  distances  within  the  extracellular  space  before  binding  to  their  specific  receptors.Neuropeptide  transmitters  act  almost  exclusively  via  activation  of  G  protein–coupled  receptors.Neuropeptides  and  their  receptors  modulate  many  diverse  functions  of  the  central  nervous  system,  including  sleep,  arousal,  reward,  feeding,  pain,  cognition,  stress  responses,  and  emotions.