Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide also known as PACAP is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ADCYAP1 gene. [5] [6] pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide is similar to vasoactive intestinal peptide. One of its effects is to stimulate enterochromaffin-like cells. It binds to vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor and to the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide receptor.
This gene encodes adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide 1. Mediated by adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide 1 receptors, this polypeptide stimulates adenylate cyclase and subsequently increases the cAMP level in target cells. Adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide 1 not only is a hypophysiotropic hormone (i.e. a substance that induces activity in the hypophysis), but also functions as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. In addition, it plays a role in paracrine and autocrine regulation of certain types of cells. This gene has five exons. Exons 1 and 2 encode the 5' UTR and signal peptide, respectively; exon 4 encodes an adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide 1-related peptide; and exon 5 encodes the mature peptide and 3' UTR. This gene encodes three different mature peptides, including two isotypes: a shorter form and a longer form. [6]
A version of this gene has been associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women (but not men). [7] This disorder involves a maladaptive psychological response to traumatic, i.e. existence-threatening, events. Ressler et al. identified an association of a SNP in the gene coding for pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), implicating this peptide and its receptor (PAC1) in PTSD. In mouse model of heavy alcohol drinking, PACAP seems to mediate alcohol effects on bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. [8]
Both isoforms of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-38 and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-27) have been implicated in migraine pathogenesis. [9] [10] A Danish research group led by Dr. Messoud Ashina found that intravenous infusion of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-38 induced migraine attacks in 58% of people with migraine, [9] whilst the corresponding migraine induction rate was 55% for pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-27. [10] Treatments with monoclonal antibodies have been investigated to target pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide or its receptors for the treatment of primary headache disorders. Alder BioPharmaceuticals's ALD1910, which targets the peptide, began a phase I study in October 2019. [11] [12] Amgen's AMG-301, which targets the PAC1 receptor, failed to show greater efficacy than placebo in phase II trials. [13]
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide has been shown to interact with secretin receptor. [14]
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate is a second messenger, or cellular signal occurring within cells, that is important in many biological processes. cAMP is a derivative of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and used for intracellular signal transduction in many different organisms, conveying the cAMP-dependent pathway.
Secretin is a hormone that regulates water homeostasis throughout the body and influences the environment of the duodenum by regulating secretions in the stomach, pancreas, and liver. It is a peptide hormone produced in the S cells of the duodenum, which are located in the intestinal glands. In humans, the secretin peptide is encoded by the SCT gene.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide, also known as vasoactive intestinal polypeptide or VIP, is a peptide hormone that is vasoactive in the intestine. VIP is a peptide of 28 amino acid residues that belongs to a glucagon/secretin superfamily, the ligand of class II G protein–coupled receptors. VIP is produced in many tissues of vertebrates including the gut, pancreas, cortex, and suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus in the brain. VIP stimulates contractility in the heart, causes vasodilation, increases glycogenolysis, lowers arterial blood pressure and relaxes the smooth muscle of trachea, stomach and gallbladder. In humans, the vasoactive intestinal peptide is encoded by the VIP gene.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a member of the calcitonin family of peptides consisting of calcitonin, amylin, adrenomedullin, adrenomedullin 2 (intermedin) and calcitonin‑receptor‑stimulating peptide. Calcitonin is mainly produced by thyroid C cells whilst CGRP is secreted and stored in the nervous system. This peptide, in humans, exists in two forms: CGRP alpha, and CGRP beta. α-CGRP is a 37-amino acid neuropeptide and is formed by alternative splicing of the calcitonin/CGRP gene located on chromosome 11. β-CGRP is less studied. In humans, β-CGRP differs from α-CGRP by three amino acids and is encoded in a separate, nearby gene. The CGRP family includes calcitonin (CT), adrenomedullin (AM), and amylin (AMY).
There are two known receptors for the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) termed VPAC1 and VPAC2. These receptors bind both VIP and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) to some degree. Both receptors are members of the 7 transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor family.
The secretin receptor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SCTR gene. This protein is a G protein-coupled receptor which binds secretin and is the leading member of the secretin receptor family, also called class B GPCR subfamily.
Neuromedin B (NMB) is a bombesin-related peptide in mammals. It was originally purified from pig spinal cord, and later shown to be present in human central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.
Peptide PHI, also known as peptide histidine isoleucine, is a peptide which functions as a hormone. This peptide contains a composition of 27 amino acids with histidine on the N-terminus and isoleucine on the C-terminus. It was originally isolated from the mammalian small intestine amongst mammalian neurons called intramural neurons which function in the motor activity of the intestinal walls. An example of this was revealed in a study that demonstrated that this peptide regulates water and electrolyte transportation in the human jejunum; similar to its inhibitory effects on fluid absorption in the small intestine of pigs and rats.
Calcitonin receptor-like (CALCRL), also known as the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR), is a human protein; it is a receptor for calcitonin gene-related peptide.
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide type I receptor also known as PAC1, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ADCYAP1R1 gene. This receptor binds pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) is a protein, also known by the IUPHAR-recommended name CRF2, that is encoded by the CRHR2 gene and occurs on the surfaces of some mammalian cells. CRF2 receptors are type 2 G protein-coupled receptors for corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) that are resident in the plasma membranes of hormone-sensitive cells. CRH, a peptide of 41 amino acids synthesized in the hypothalamus, is the principal neuroregulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, signaling via guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) and downstream effectors such as adenylate cyclase. The CRF2 receptor is a multi-pass membrane protein with a transmembrane domain composed of seven helices arranged in a V-shape. CRF2 receptors are activated by two structurally similar peptides, urocortin II, and urocortin III, as well as CRH.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2 also known as VPAC2, is a G-protein coupled receptor that in humans is encoded by the VIPR2 gene.
G-protein coupled receptor 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GPR3 gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family of transmembrane receptors and is involved in signal transduction.
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptor 1 also known as VPAC1, is a protein, that in humans is encoded by the VIPR1 gene. VPAC1 is expressed in the brain (cerebral cortex, hippocampus, amygdala), lung, prostate, peripheral blood leukocytes, liver, small intestine, heart, spleen, placenta, kidney, thymus and testis.
Secretin receptor family consists of secretin receptors regulated by peptide hormones from the glucagon hormone family. The family is different from adhesion G protein-coupled receptors.
Endothelin-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EDN3 gene.
Down syndrome critical region gene 1, also known as DSCR1, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RCAN1 gene.
Adenylyl cyclase type 9 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ADCY9 gene.
The prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) receptors are G protein-coupled receptors that bind and are activated by prostaglandin D2. Also known as PTGDR or DP receptors, they are important for various functions of the nervous system and inflammation. They include the following proteins:
Messoud Ashina is a Danish-Azerbaijani neurologist and neuroscientist. He is currently Professor of Neurology at the University of Copenhagen and Senior Consultant of Neurology at Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet. He leads the Human Migraine Research Unit at the Danish Headache Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet. Ashina is also Director of the Danish Knowledge Center on Headache Disorders and Past President of the International Headache Society. As of 2024, Ashina is ranked as the world's leading expert on headache disorders by Expertscape.
This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.