PACAP38

Description

PACAP consists of 27 or 38 aa residues and belongs to the secretin/glucagon superfamily. PACAP has pleiotropic functions, acting as a neurotransmitter and neurotrophic factor in the central nervous system as well as a vasodilator, insulin secretagogue, smooth muscle relaxant, and immunosuppressor in peripheral tissues. PACAP was first isolated in 1989 from the extract of ovine hypothalamus on the basis of its ability to elevate cAMP levels in rat anterior pituitary cells.

The Uses of PACAP38

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-38 has been used to test its effect in stimulating the formation of cyclic AMP hypothalamus and cerebral cortex slices of chicken and to treat glioblastoma cells (U87MG) in cell migration assay to test its anti-invasive effects.

What are the applications of Application

PACAP(6-38) is a hypothalamic peptide that affects anterior pituitary cell function

General Description

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-38 (PACAP38) is mapped to human chromosome 18. 27-residue-amidated fragment (PACAP27) comprises another isoform. The PACAP38 is major isoform associated with mammals.

Biological Activity

Endogenous neuropeptide showing considerable homology with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Potently stimulates adenylyl cyclase.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-38 (PACAP38) is a cardioprotectant and may help in treating radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD). It plays a protective role during oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes. PACAP38 has antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory property. It is implicated in the pathophysiology of migraine and cluster headache.

storage

Store at -20°C

Structure and conformation

PACAP38, consisting of 38 aa residues, was the first isolated, followed by PACAP27, lacking 11 aa residues from the C-terminal of PACAP38. The C-terminal of both PACAPs was amidated. PACAP belongs to the secretin/ glucagon superfamily, and its closest member is the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), which shows 68% aa sequence identity. Human PACAPs are derived from a 176-aa residue precursor, located in the C-terminus, next to the PACAP-related peptide (PRP) . The PACAP precursor is cleaved by various prohormone convertases (PCs) to generate PACAP27 or PACAP38. From the evolutionary aspect of the superfamily, the ancestral peptide emerged about 700 million years ago, and PACAP was established by gene duplication, exon duplication, and exon deletion. The PACAP sequence is well conserved in vertebrates, and is perfectly conserved in mammals. Stingray PACAP has 44 aa residues with two predicted processing sites, suggesting that the processing site of preproPACAP shows diversity in species. Human PACAP27, theoretical Mr 3147.6, pI 9.70; human PACAP38, theoretical Mr 4534.3, pI 10.41. PACAP is freely soluble in water and ethanol. PACAP solution in water is unstable at 4°C, but is stable for a year at -80°C at 0.1mM.