[The multifunctionality of regulatory peptides and the rule of "what--where--when" as a principle of their ordered action]

Abstract

Consistent study of stages and history of discovery of regulatory peptides (RP) as a new class of multifunctional endogenic regulators puts forward some actual problems. A question what new notions on the manner of control of physiological functions have been introduced by RP investigation is considered. Two historical tendencies in the RP studies are estimated. A conception on peptides as multifunctional and colocated factors of neurohumoral regulation of organism was opposed to the idea of "single" substance--a regulator of "unique" function. In this connection a conception of peptide-regulatory continuum is considered and the author postulated the principle "what--where--when" as the main rule of RP well-regulated action. The statement on tissue (regional) specificity of the biogenesis processes of different RP as molecular basis of their regulatory function is grounded.