Further study on the effects of achatin-I, an Achatina endogenous neuroexcitatory tetrapeptide having a D-phenylalanine residue, on Achatina neurones

Abstract

Achatin-I (Gly-D-Phe-Ala-Asp), a tetrapeptide having a D-phenylalanine residue and isolated from Achatina ganglia, has been proposed as an excitatory neurotransmitter of Achatina neurones. In the present study, it was demonstrated using Achatina giant neurones that achetin-I, perfused at alow concentration, enhanced an inward current (Iin) caused by 5-hydroxytryptamine (fast component) and an outward current (Iout) caused by FMRFamide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2), and that this peptide suppressed an Iin caused by oxytocin, and Iout caused by acetylcholine and APGW-amide (Ala-Pro-Gly-Trp-NH2). These findings indicate that achatin-I acts not only as a neurotransmitter but also as a neuromodulator for these neurones. In the preliminary experiments, it was shown that an Iin caused by achatin-I on an Achatina giant neurone type, PON (periodically oscillating neurone), was suppressed by H-89 (a PKA inhibitor) and W-7 (calmodulin inhibitor), and that an Iin caused by achatin-I on v-RCON (ventral-right cerebral distinct neurone) was suppressed by KT5823 (PKG inhibitor), suggesting that achatin-I acts on PON via the cyclic AMP-PKA system and on v-RCON via the cyclic GMP-PKG system. Moreover, calmodulin would play a role to produce the Iin for achatin-I on PON via the system mentioned.