New insights into the FLPergic complements of parasitic nematodes: Informing deorphanisation approaches

Publication date: June 2014 Source:EuPA Open Proteomics, Volume 3 Author(s): Ciaran J. McCoy , Louise E. Atkinson , Mostafa Zamanian , Paul McVeigh , Tim A. Day , Michael J. Kimber , Nikki J. Marks , Aaron G. Maule , Angela Mousley FMRFamide-like peptide (FLP) receptors are appealing as putative anthelmintic targets. To date, 31 flp-encoding genes have been identified in Caenorhabditis elegans and thirteen FLP-activated G-protein coupled receptors (FLP-GPCRs) have been reported. The lack of knowledge on FLPs and FLP-GPCRs in parasites impedes their functional characterisation and chemotherapeutic exploitation. Using homology-based BLAST searches and phylogenetic analyses this study describes the identification of putative flp and flp-GPCR gene homologues in 17 nematode parasites providing the first pan-phylum genome-based overview of the FLPergic complement. These data will facilitate FLP-receptor deorphanisation efforts in the quest for novel control targets for nematode parasites. Graphical abstract
Source: EuPA Open Proteomics - Category: Bioinformatics Source Type: research