Remote control of renal physiology by the intestinal neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor in Drosophila.
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The role of the central neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) in circadian timekeeping in Drosophila is remarkably similar to that of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in mammals. Like VIP, PDF is expressed outside the circadian network by neurons innervating the gut, but the function and mode of action of this PDF have not been characterized. Here we investigate the visceral roles of PDF by adapting cellular and physiological methods to the study of visceral responses to PDF signaling in wild-type and mutant genetic backgrounds. We find that intestinal PDF acts at a distance on the renal system, where it regulates ureter contractions. We show that PdfR, PDFs established receptor, is expressed by the muscles of the excretory system, and present evidence that PdfR-induced cAMP increases underlie the myotropic effects of PDF. These findings extend the similarities between PDF and VIP beyond their shared central role as circadian regulators, and uncover an unexpected endocrine mode of myotropic action for an intestinal neuropeptide on the renal system.
Date Issued
2012-07-24
Start Page
12177
End Page
12182
Journal / Book Title
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Volume
109
Issue
30
Copyright Statement
© 2012 National Academy of Sciences.
Identifier
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22778427
1200247109
Coverage Spatial
United States