Editorial: A Comparative Survey of the RF-Amide Peptide Superfamily.

Karine Rousseau,Sylvie Dufour,Hubert Vaudry

doi:10.3389/fendo.2015.00120

Abstract

The first member of the RF-amide peptide superfamily to be characterized, in 1977, was the cardioexcitatory peptide, FMRFamide, isolated from the ganglia of the clam Macrocallista nimbosa (1). Since then, a large number of such peptides, designated after their C-terminal arginine (R) and amidated phenylalanine (F) residues, have been identified in representative species of all major phyla. The discovery, 12 years ago, that the RF-amide peptide kisspeptin, acting via GPR54, was essential for the onset of puberty and reproduction, has been a major breakthrough in reproductive physiology (2–4). It has also put in front of the spotlights RF-amide peptides and has invigorated research on this superfamily of regulatory neuropeptides. The present Research Topic aims at illustrating major advances achieved, through comparative studies in (mammalian and non-mammalian) vertebrates and invertebrates, in the knowledge of RF-amide peptides in terms of evolutionary history and physiological significance.

Highlights

Specialty section: This article was submitted to Neuroendocrine Science, a section of the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology
The discovery, 12 years ago, that the RF-amide peptide kisspeptin, acting via GPR54, was essential for the onset of puberty and reproduction, has been a major breakthrough in reproductive physiology [2,3,4]. It has put in front of the spotlights RF-amide peptides and has invigorated research on this superfamily of regulatory neuropeptides
The present Research Topic aims at illustrating major advances achieved, through comparative studies in vertebrates and invertebrates, in the knowledge of RF-amide peptides in terms of evolutionary history and physiological significance

Summary

Introduction

Specialty section: This article was submitted to Neuroendocrine Science, a section of the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology. It has put in front of the spotlights RF-amide peptides and has invigorated research on this superfamily of regulatory neuropeptides. The present Research Topic aims at illustrating major advances achieved, through comparative studies in (mammalian and nonmammalian) vertebrates and invertebrates, in the knowledge of RF-amide peptides in terms of evolutionary history and physiological significance.

Results

Conclusion