MSc Exit Seminar – Téa Pavlović – (D. Lovejoy lab)

MSc Exit Seminar

Thursday July 7^th, 10:10 am – Ramsay Wright Building, Rm. 432

Téa Pavlović (Lovejoy lab)

 “A novel route for steroidogenesis via the teneurins and adhesion GPCR signaling: the emerging role of teneurin C-terminal associated peptide in mammalian reproduction”

Abstract

Teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP) is a peptide sequence encoded by the terminal exon of each of the four teneurin genes and has a structural similarity to corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and peptides associated with the secretin family. It binds and activates the ADGRL1 receptor (latrophilin), a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) with structural similarities to the CRH and secretin family of GPCRs. Moreover, TCAP and teneurins associate with dystroglycan transmembrane proteins along with ADGRL1. Together, these players form an intercellular adhesion complex capable of activating PLC-PKC cell signalling cascades, respectively. Previous studies in mice have shown that TCAP-1 is highly expressed in the mouse testes and epididymis. In vivo data indicate that TCAP-1 can increase both serum and fecal testosterone concentrations. New studies using immortalized Leydig (TM3) and Sertoli (TM4) cells suggest that TCAP-1 activates these cells differentially. In TM3 cells, a significant increase in testosterone synthesis was observed upon TCAP-1 stimulation, indicating that this mechanism may be independent of GnRH and gonadotropin action. New evidence now indicates that this mechanism may in fact be dependent upon binding and activation of the ADGRL1 adhesion receptor. These data together have uncovered a potentially new peptide member that plays a role in the regulation of reproduction in the mammalian testes.

 
Ramsay Wright is a wheelchair accessible building.