Neuropeptide signalling systems - An underexplored target for venom drug discovery.
Biochem Pharmacol
; 181: 114129, 2020 11.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32619425
ABSTRACT
Neuropeptides are signalling molecules mainly secreted from neurons that act as neurotransmitters or peptide hormones to affect physiological processes and modulate behaviours. In humans, neuropeptides are implicated in numerous diseases and understanding their role in physiological processes and pathologies is important for therapeutic development. Teasing apart the (patho)physiology of neuropeptides remains difficult due to ligand and receptor promiscuity and the complexity of the signalling pathways. The current approach relies on a pharmacological toolbox of agonists and antagonists displaying high selectivity for independent receptor subtypes, with the caveat that only few selective ligands have been discovered or developed. Animal venoms represent an underexplored source for novel receptor subtype-selective ligands that could aid in dissecting human neuropeptide signalling systems. Multiple endogenous-like neuropeptides as well as peptides acting on neuropeptide receptors are present in venoms. In this review, we summarise current knowledge on neuropeptides and discuss venoms as a source for ligands targeting neuropeptide signalling systems.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Péptidos
/
Neuropéptidos
/
Transducción de Señal
/
Descubrimiento de Drogas
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Biochem Pharmacol
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia