Different transcription regulation routes are exerted by L- and D-amino acid enantiomers of peptide hormones

Abstract

Conversion of one or more amino acids in eukaryotic peptides to the D-enantiomer configuration is catalyzed by specific L/D-peptide isomerases and it is a poorly investigated post-translational modification. No common modified amino acid or specific modified position has been recognized, and mechanisms underlying changes in the peptide function provided by this conversion are not widely studied. The 72 amino acid crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) in Astacidea crustaceans exhibits a co-existence of two peptide enantiomers with either D-or L-phenylalanine as their third residue. It is a pleiotropic hormone regulating several physiological processes in different target tissues and along different time scales. CHH enantiomers differently affect time courses and intensities of examined processes. The short-term effects of the two isomers on gene expression were examined in the hepatopancreas, gills, hemocytes and muscles of the astacid Pontastacus leptodactylus. Gene expression in muscles and hemocytes was not affected by either of the isomers. Two modes of action for CHH were elucidated in the hepatopancreas and the gills: specific gene induction in both organs by D-CHH, and targeted attenuation caused by both enantiomers in the gills. Consequently, a two-receptor system is proposed for conveying the effect of the two CHH isomers.

Expression of cytoskeletal and molt-related genes is temporally scheduled in the hypodermis of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii during premolt

“…A similar discrepancy between the interpreted role of MHCs and their structure has been found (Tom et al, 2014) in the gills of the CHH-affected astacid P. leptodactylus, in which the expression of proteins that are related to a variety of actin system genes was dramatically attenuated one hour after application of the D-isomer of CHH. In both studies, most MHC sequences more resembled the insect muscle-type mhc than the non-muscle zipper, questioning the cytoskeletal origin of most expressed MHCs.…”

Roles of d-Amino Acids on the Bioactivity of Host Defense Peptides

“…Synthetic all- l dermorphin does not exhibit any biological activity [ 35 ]. Similarly, the presence of d -AAs mediates the receptor-ligand binding of crustacean hyperglycemia hormone CHH [ 36 ] and the mouse formyl peptide receptor Fpr that is responsible for vomeronasal pathogen sensing [ 37 ].…”

Chirality-Dependent Growth of Self-Assembled Diphenylalanine Microtubes

“…A huge number of chiral molecules such as amino acids and sugars exist in nature and play a crucial role in living organisms . Essential physiological processes, such as hormone regulation, drug metabolism, and even odor perception, , exhibit stereospecificity with respect to exclusively one of the possible stereoisomers. ,− …”