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What Are Neuropeptides?
Abstract
We know neuropeptides now for over 40 years as chemical signals in the brain. The discovery of neuropeptides is founded on groundbreaking research in physiology, endocrinology, and biochemistry during the last century and has been built on three seminal notions: (1) peptide hormones are chemical signals in the endocrine system; (2) neurosecretion of peptides is a general principle in the nervous system; and (3) the nervous system is responsive to peptide signals. These historical lines have contributed to how neuropeptides can be defined today: "Neuropeptides are small proteinaceous substances produced and released by neurons through the regulated secretory route and acting on neural substrates." Thus, neuropeptides are the most diverse class of signaling molecules in the brain engaged in many physiological functions. According to this definition almost 70 genes can be distinguished in the mammalian genome, encoding neuropeptide precursors and a multitude of bioactive neuropeptides. In addition, among cytokines, peptide hormones, and growth factors there are several subfamilies of peptides displaying most of the hallmarks of neuropeptides, for example neural chemokines, cerebellins, neurexophilins, and granins. All classical neuropeptides as well as putative neuropeptides from the latter families are presented as a resource.
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“By far the largest family of neuromodulator molecules known, however, comprises the evolutionarily ancient proteinaceous signaling molecules known as neuropeptides”
From Single-cell transcriptomic evidence for dense intracortical neuropeptide networks (2019) · cites this paper as Burbach, 2011
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Metadata
- Authors
- Burbach, J. P. H.
- Affiliations
- University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Burbach, J. Peter H.
- ORCID
- Burbach, J. Peter H.
- Venue
- Methods in molecular biology
- Publisher
- Humana Press
- Published
- 2011
- Volume
- 789
- Pages
- 1-36
- ISSN
- 1064-3745 (ISSN-L)
- 1940-6029
- OpenAlex
- W8789689
- Cited by
- 167
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 3.59
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Methods in molecular biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
- Keywords
- neuropeptides, neuropeptide precursors, regulated secretory pathway, neurosecretion, peptide hormones, neuronal signaling, neuropeptide families, cerebellin, granins
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Chromogranins, Humans, Models, Biological, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Neuropeptides, Chemokines
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