Description
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is an endogenous peptide that stimulates cAMP production in the anterior pituitary. PACAP and PACAP-related peptide (PRP) regulate immune function and display increases in expression when hosts are challenged with bacterial pathogens. PACAP and PRP also control expression of reproductive hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Additionally, PACAP and PRP bind the PAC1 receptor and VPAC1/2 receptors. PACAP itself inhibits K+ amplitude of delayed rectifier K+ channels, exhibiting anti-apoptotic activity in cerebellar granule cells.
References
Nam BH, Moon JY, Kim YO, et al. Structural and functional characterization of pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)/PACAP-related peptide (PRP) and its receptor in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 2013 Jan;164(1):18-28. PMID: 23026070.
Tam JK, Lee LT, Cheng CH, et al. Discovery of a new reproductive hormone in teleosts: pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-related peptide (PRP). Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2011 Sep 15;173(3):405-10. PMID: 21703272.
Vaudry D, Falluel-Morel A, Bourgault S, et al. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and its receptors: 20 years after the discovery. Pharmacol Rev. 2009 Sep;61(3):283-357. PMID: 19805477.
Mei YA, Vaudry D, Basille M, et al. PACAP inhibits delayed rectifier potassium current via a cAMP/PKA transduction pathway: evidence for the involvement of I k in the anti-apoptotic action of PACAP. Eur J Neurosci. 2004 Mar;19(6):1446-58. PMID: 15066141.
