Tachykinin peptides: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:32, 15 February 2025

Overview[edit]

Tachykinin peptides are a family of neuropeptides that share a common C-terminal sequence and are involved in a variety of physiological processes. These peptides are characterized by their ability to rapidly induce contraction of smooth muscle tissues, hence the name "tachykinin," derived from the Greek words "tachys" (swift) and "kinein" (to move).

Structure[edit]

Tachykinins are small peptides, typically consisting of 10-12 amino acids. The defining feature of tachykinins is their conserved C-terminal sequence, which is -Phe-X-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2, where "X" can be various amino acids. This sequence is crucial for their biological activity and interaction with neurokinin receptors.

Function[edit]

Tachykinins are involved in numerous physiological functions, including:

Neurotransmission: They act as neurotransmitters in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system.
Smooth muscle contraction: They induce contraction in smooth muscles, such as those found in the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system.
Pain perception: Tachykinins are involved in the transmission of pain signals.
Inflammatory responses: They play a role in modulating inflammation and immune responses.

Types of Tachykinins[edit]

The most well-known tachykinins include:

Substance P: Involved in pain perception and inflammatory processes.
Neurokinin A: Primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract and involved in smooth muscle contraction.
Neurokinin B: Plays a role in reproductive system regulation and endocrine system function.

Receptors[edit]

Tachykinins exert their effects by binding to specific G protein-coupled receptors known as neurokinin receptors. There are three main types of neurokinin receptors:

NK1 receptor: Has a high affinity for Substance P.
NK2 receptor: Preferentially binds Neurokinin A.
NK3 receptor: Primarily interacts with Neurokinin B.

Clinical Significance[edit]

Tachykinins and their receptors are targets for therapeutic interventions in various conditions, such as:

Chronic pain: Antagonists of the NK1 receptor are used to manage pain.
Asthma and COPD: Tachykinin receptor antagonists can help reduce bronchoconstriction.
Depression and anxiety: NK1 receptor antagonists are being explored for their potential antidepressant and anxiolytic effects.

Related pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-''Tachykinin peptides''' are a family of neuropeptides that play a crucial role in the regulation of various physiological processes in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. These peptides are characterized by their common C-terminal sequence, Phe-X-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2, where X represents a variable amino acid residue. The tachykinin family includes substances such as [[Substance P]], [[Neurokinin A]], [[Neurokinin B]], and others, which are involved in functions ranging from pain transmission and modulation to the regulation of blood pressure, smooth muscle contraction, and inflammatory responses.
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:Tachykinin peptides}}
-==Structure and Classification==
+== Overview ==
-Tachykinin peptides are derived from preprotachykinin genes through alternative splicing and proteolytic processing. There are three known preprotachykinin genes in mammals, named PPT-A, PPT-B, and PPT-C, which give rise to different tachykinins. For example, Substance P and Neurokinin A are encoded by the PPT-A gene, while Neurokinin B is encoded by the PPT-B gene.
+[[File:PDB_1myu_EBI.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Structure of a tachykinin peptide.]]
+'''Tachykinin peptides''' are a family of neuropeptides that share a common C-terminal sequence and are involved in a variety of physiological processes. These peptides are characterized by their ability to rapidly induce contraction of smooth muscle tissues, hence the name "tachykinin," derived from the Greek words "tachys" (swift) and "kinein" (to move).
-==Function==
+== Structure ==
-The biological activities of tachykinin peptides are mediated through their interaction with specific G protein-coupled receptors, known as tachykinin receptors. There are three main types of tachykinin receptors: NK1, NK2, and NK3, which have preferential affinity for Substance P, Neurokinin A, and Neurokinin B, respectively. Through these receptors, tachykinin peptides can exert diverse effects, including vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, stimulation of smooth muscle contraction, and modulation of pain perception.
+Tachykinins are small peptides, typically consisting of 10-12 amino acids. The defining feature of tachykinins is their conserved C-terminal sequence, which is -Phe-X-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2, where "X" can be various amino acids. This sequence is crucial for their biological activity and interaction with [[neurokinin receptors]].
-In the central nervous system, tachykinins are involved in the regulation of mood, anxiety, stress response, and neurogenic inflammation. Peripherally, they play roles in gut motility, salivary secretion, and the modulation of the immune response.
+== Function ==
+Tachykinins are involved in numerous physiological functions, including:
-==Clinical Significance==
+* '''Neurotransmission''': They act as neurotransmitters in the [[central nervous system]] and [[peripheral nervous system]].
-Due to their wide range of biological activities, tachykinin peptides and their receptors have been implicated in various pathological conditions, including chronic pain, asthma, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome. Consequently, tachykinin receptor antagonists have been explored as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of these conditions. However, the development of clinically effective tachykinin receptor antagonists has been challenging, partly due to the complexity of tachykinin signaling and the occurrence of side effects.
+* '''Smooth muscle contraction''': They induce contraction in smooth muscles, such as those found in the [[gastrointestinal tract]] and [[respiratory system]].
+* '''Pain perception''': Tachykinins are involved in the transmission of pain signals.
+* '''Inflammatory responses''': They play a role in modulating [[inflammation]] and immune responses.
-==Research Directions==
+== Types of Tachykinins ==
-Current research on tachykinin peptides focuses on elucidating their roles in health and disease, improving the understanding of their mechanisms of action, and developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting tachykinin receptors. This includes the design of more selective and potent tachykinin receptor antagonists and the exploration of their therapeutic potential in preclinical and clinical studies.
+The most well-known tachykinins include:
-[[Category:Peptides]]
+* '''[[Substance P]]''': Involved in pain perception and inflammatory processes.
-[[Category:Neurochemistry]]
+* '''[[Neurokinin A]]''': Primarily found in the [[gastrointestinal tract]] and involved in smooth muscle contraction.
+* '''[[Neurokinin B]]''': Plays a role in [[reproductive system]] regulation and [[endocrine system]] function.
+== Receptors ==
+Tachykinins exert their effects by binding to specific [[G protein-coupled receptors]] known as neurokinin receptors. There are three main types of neurokinin receptors:
+* '''NK1 receptor''': Has a high affinity for [[Substance P]].
+* '''NK2 receptor''': Preferentially binds [[Neurokinin A]].
+* '''NK3 receptor''': Primarily interacts with [[Neurokinin B]].
+== Clinical Significance ==
+Tachykinins and their receptors are targets for therapeutic interventions in various conditions, such as:
+* '''[[Chronic pain]]''': Antagonists of the NK1 receptor are used to manage pain.
+* '''[[Asthma]] and [[COPD]]''': Tachykinin receptor antagonists can help reduce bronchoconstriction.
+* '''[[Depression]] and [[anxiety]]''': NK1 receptor antagonists are being explored for their potential antidepressant and anxiolytic effects.
+== Related pages ==
+* [[Neuropeptide]]
+* [[Neurotransmitter]]
+* [[G protein-coupled receptor]]
+* [[Substance P]]
+[[Category:Neuropeptides]]
 [[Category:Neurotransmitters]]
-{{Neuropeptides}}
-{{G protein-coupled receptors}}
-{{medicine-stub}}