This three-year award supports U.S.-France cooperative research in endocrinology between J. Michael Conlon of Creighton University and Hubert Vaudry of the Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, University of Rouen. The objectives of their research are to continue investigations on the isolation and characterization of novel regulatory peptides in frog brain and to identify the structure and function of other amphibian pancreatic polypeptides and tachykinin-related peptides. The investigations involve tissue collection, purification and characterization, and synthesis of the peptides. Subsequently, the researchers will conduct receptor binding studies with the ultimate goal of characterizing as many novel biologically active peptides as possible. The project takes advantage of complementary expertise in the U.S. and France. The U.S. investigator provides the experience and facilities for isolating the pure frog peptides and for determining their complete primary structures. This is complemented by the French investigator's ability to characterize peptides functionally. He has developed specialized bioassays utilizing frog tissues. The results of their joint efforts will be of interest to endocrinologist and will improve our understanding of the evolution of peptide hormones and their receptors.
