Peptidomics for studying biological functions of VGF

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461402
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Endocrinology
• Research Institution: National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Sasaki Kazuki 国立研究開発法人国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, 室長 (80260313)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ペプチド / 質量分析 / プロセシング / ペプチドミクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

VGF represents a neurosecretory protein expressed in a subset of hypothalamic neurons and endocrine cells. It has been considered a precursor to some neuropeptides because of several pairs of basic amino acid residues. This complexity has defied conventional approaches to studying the whole picture of its processing, which would provide a clue to elucidating the biological function. Alternatively we have advocated a mass spectrometry-based peptide profiling method with an aim of inspecting peptides secreted by VGF-expressing endocrine cells. Our study has revealed that the precursor undergoes limited proteolysis to more than 15 processing products, with a diverse set of post-translational modifications. One of the processed peptides proved to be an endogenous suppressor of insulin secretion. Our peptidomics approach would be extended to different proteins without relying on antibodies.

Free Research Field

内分泌学