The brain of Lymnaea contains a family of FMRFamide-like peptides

Authentic FMRFamide and two FMRFamide-related heptapeptides were purified from the central nervous system of the fresh water snail Lymnaea stagnalis. The sequences of the heptapeptides were determined as: Ser-Asp-Pro-Phe-Leu-Arg-Phe-NH2 (SDPFLRFamide) and Gly-Asp-Pro-Phe-Leu-Arg-Phe-NH2 (GDPFLRFamide) by modified Edman degradation and enzymatic digestion. Relatively high quantities of the deamidated and therefore non-immunoreactive analogs of these two peptides (SDPFLRF and GDPFLRF) were also found. SDPFLRFamide and GDPFLRFamide were synthesized and were found to be chromatographically and biologically indistinguishable from the natural peptides, confirming the sequences. The log dose-response curves for the chronotropic action of either synthetic peptide on the heart of Lymnaea was very similar to that of FMRFamide. These data indicate that Lymnaea contains a family of FMRFamide-like peptides.