Bücher der Reihe Colloquium Series on Neuropeptides

Summarises advances in invertebrate neuropeptides studies concerning molecular diversities, distributions, and biological functions. In addition, the emerging mass spectrometric techniques have been discussed extensively as a powerful tool enabling accelerated invertebrate NP studies.

Describes the general structure of G protein-coupled receptors, including the information obtained from crystal structure determination that has given an insight into the activation mechanism of these receptors. In addition, the book summarizes the components of the signal transduction system (including G proteins, effectors and second messengers generally activated by the neuropeptide receptors).

The prohormone convertases (PC) 1/3 and 2 are calcium-activated eukaryotic subtilisins with low pH optima which accomplish the limited proteolysis of peptide hormone precursors within neurons and endocrine cells. This title reviews the biochemistry, regulation, and roles of PC1/3 and 2 in disease, with an emphasis on the work published in the last 10 years.