Study summary · research use only
Vasoactive intestinal peptide: role of calmodulin and catalytic antibodies
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This review discusses the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the related peptide growth hormone releasing factor (GRF). The abstract reports that VIP and GRF have been described as binding to two protein molecules unrelated to their G-protein coupled receptors: both bind with high affinity to calmodulin, modulating biological activities of the regulatory protein, and VIP has been reported to bind autoantibodies isolated from normal and asthmatic subjects. Several such autoantibodies were found to catalyze hydrolysis of the native VIP molecule. The authors consider the biological consequences of VIP and GRF binding to these macromolecular receptors.
Abstract
In the accompanying article Paul and Ebadi [1993 (Neurochem Int. 23, 197-214)] review recent observations that the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the related peptide growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) bind to two novel protein molecules unrelated to their G-protein coupled receptors. VIP and GRF have been reported to bind with high affinity to calmodulin, leading to modulation of biological activities of the regulatory protein. VIP has also been reported to bind to autoantibodies isolated from both normal and asthmatic subjects. Several of these autoantibodies have been found to catalyze the hydrolysis of the native VIP molecule. The biological consequences of the binding of VIP and GRF to these macromolecular "receptors" are considered.
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