Diversity in mammalian tachykinin peptidergic neurons: Multiple peptides, receptors, and regulatory mechanisms

The tachykinins comprise a family of closely related peptides that participate in the regulation of diverse biological processes. The tachykinin peptides substance P, neurokinin A, neurokinin A(3-10), neuropeptide K, and neuropeptide γ are produced from a single preprotachykinin gene as a result of differential RNA splicing and differential posttranslational processing. Another tachykinin, neurokinin B, is produced from a separate preprotachykinin gene. These preprotachykinin mRNAs and peptide products are differentially distributed throughout the nervous system. Three distinct G protein-coupled tachykinin receptors exist for these tachykinin peptides. The three receptors interact differentially with the tachykinin peptides and are uniquely distributed throughout the nervous system. The NK-I receptor preferentially interacts with substance P, the NK-2 receptor prefers neurokinin A, neuropeptide K, and neuropeptide γ, and the NK-3 receptor interacts best with neurokinin B. Examples of the roles of tachykinin peptidergic neuronal systems are taken from the spinal cord sensory system and the nigrostriatal extrapyramidal motor system. Analysis of the functional significance of multiple tachykinin peptide systems, receptor-second messenger coupling mechanisms, and developmental and regulatory mechanisms underlying peptide mRNA and receptor expression represent areas of current and future investigation.