Internal Seminar: "Systematic identification of neuropeptides in basal metazoans using mass spectrometry" – Dr. Eisuke Hayakawa

Internal Seminar: Eisuke Hayakawa, Group Leader, Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit (Watanabe Unit)

Title: "Systematic identification of neuropeptides in basal metazoans using mass spectrometry"

Abstract: Neuropeptides have deep evolutionary roots and play a central role in the neurophysiological processes in metazoa. Understanding the anatomical and physiological nature of peptidergic nervous systems in basal metazoans are thus essential to reconstruct the early evolutionary processes of the nervous system. Although the genome sequences of basal metazoans are being available, their less conserved and short structural characteristics make it difficult to identify neuropeptides in silico. We are conducting large scale neuropeptide identification by combining tandem mass spectrometry and informatics. We developed a method employing tandem mass spectrometry and genome-based neuropeptide prediction that enables highly sensitive and confident neuropeptide identification in a high-throughput fashion. This method already led to successful identification of more than 30 novel neuropeptides in Nematostella, a cnidarians species that possesses primitive nervous system.

We will discuss the evolutionary conservation of the newly identified neuropeptides. Further, we will discuss the potential of mass spectrometry to study the nervous system of basal metazoans.

Refreshments will be served afterwards. We hope to see you there!
 

Sincerely,
 

Internal Seminar Organizing Committee:

Marylka Yoe Uusisaari
Bianca Sieveritz
Rob Campbell
Margaret Mars-Brisbin
Lauren Dembeck
Maeva Techer
Jigyasa Arora
Yuka Suzuki