High impact information on flp-1

• Disruption of a neuropeptide gene, flp-1, causes multiple behavioral defects in Caenorhabditis elegans [1].
• Conversely, overexpression of flp-1 results in the reciprocal phenotypes [1].
• On the basis of epistasis analysis, flp-1 gene products appear to signal upstream of a G protein-coupled second messenger system [1].
• The gene, named flp-1, consists of six exons of which four encode FMRFamide-like peptides [2].
• Thus, the flp-1-encoded peptides and serotonin function most likely function in concert to facilitate the onset of the active egg-laying phase [3].

Biological context of flp-1

• This gene, Cv-flp-1, shares strong sequence homology in the coding regions with the flp-1 gene from the related free-living soil nematode C. elegans [4].

Anatomical context of flp-1

• Because flp-1 is known to be expressed in interneurons that are postsynaptic to a variety of chemosensory cells, the FLP-1 peptides may function to regulate the activity of the egg-laying circuitry in response to sensory cues [3].

Associations of flp-1 with chemical compounds

• Further radioimmunometrical screening of acidified ethanol extracts of C. elegans has revealed the presence of other novel FaRPs, which are not encoded on the flp-1 gene [5].

Other interactions of flp-1

• Although the overall structure of the translated product of afp-1 is similar to flp-1 from C. elegans (18), there is little evidence for homology between the two nematode neuropeptide genes [6].
• At least 14 genes, designated flp-1 through flp-14, encode FaRPs in C. elegans [7].
• Numerical analysis of EST numbers suggests that flp-1, flp-11 and flp-14 are amongst the most highly expressed flp genes [8].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of flp-1

• By quantitative PCR analysis of RNA from mixed stage animals, we found that the shorter transcript of flp-1 has a higher level of expression than the longer transcript [9].

References