Abstract
The Wamide neuropeptide superfamily is of interest due to its distinctive functions in regulating life cycle transitions, metamorphic hormone signaling, and several aspects of digestive system function, from gut muscle contraction to satiety and fat storage. Due to variation among researchers in naming conventions, a global view of Wamide signaling in animals in terms of conservation or diversification of function is currently lacking. Here, I summarize the phylogenetic distribution of Wamide neuropeptides based on current data and describe recent findings in the areas of Wamide receptors and biological functions. Common trends that emerge across Cnidarians and protostomes are the presence of multiple Wamide receptors within a single organism, and the fact that Wamide signaling likely functions across an extensive variety of biological systems, including visual, circadian, and reproductive systems. Important areas of focus for future research are the further identification of Wamide-receptor pairs, confirmation of the phylogenetic distribution of Wamides through largescale sequencing and mass spectrometry, and assignment of different functions to specific subsets of Wamide-expressing neurons. More extensive study of Wamide signaling throughout larval development in a greater number of phyla is also important in order to understand the role of Wamides in hormonal regulation. Defining the evolution and function of neuropeptide signaling in animal nervous systems will benefit from an increased understanding of Wamide function and signaling mechanisms in a wider variety of organisms, beyond the traditional model systems.
Highlights
Neuropeptides are short peptidergic molecules released by animal neurons that act as modulators or hormones to regulate biological processes
The fact that Wamide signaling is lost in some species or phyla indicates that Wamides function within more complex networks of neuropeptide signaling, sometimes playing a modulatory but non-essential role, and their function may be taken on or replaced by other neuropeptides
Several similarities are seen in both the function and spatial expression of Wamides in cnidarians and protostomes, supporting the definition of this neuropeptide superfamily, the identification of cnidarian Wamide receptors will further enlighten the evolution of Wamide signaling in metazoans
Summary
Neuropeptides are short peptidergic molecules released by animal neurons that act as modulators or hormones to regulate biological processes. Adipokinetic hormone (AKH) in some insect species, molluscan APGWamides and echinoderm luqins, and some insect short neuropeptide F’s (sNPF) have C-terminal Wamide motifs, but phylogenetic analyses indicate that these neuropeptides belong to the AKH/corazonin/ACP/GnRH superfamily, the RYa/luqin, and the sNPF/prolactin superfamilies, respectively [2,3,4,5], they are not considered here In this mini review, I aim to unite recent knowledge of Wamide expression and function in diverse phyla to improve understanding of their evolutionary history and identify remaining knowledge gaps where future research could enlighten the evolution of Wamide function and mechanism of action
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