Identification of NIPSNAP1 as a nocistatin-interacting protein involving pain transmission

J Biol Chem. 2012 Mar 23;287(13):10403-10413. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.271866. Epub 2012 Feb 6.

Abstract

4-Nitrophenylphosphatase domain and non-neuronal SNAP25-like protein homolog 1 (NIPSNAP1) is a molecule of physiologically unknown function, although it is predominantly expressed in the brain, spinal cord, liver, and kidney. We identified NIPSNAP1 as a protein that interacts with the neuropeptide nocistatin (NST) from synaptosomal membranes of mouse spinal cord using high-performance affinity latex beads. NST, which is produced from the same precursor protein as an opioid-like neuropeptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), has opposite effects on pain transmission evoked by N/OFQ. The calculated full-length pre-protein of NIPSNAP1 was 33 kDa, whereas the N-terminal truncated form of NIPSNAP1 (29 kDa) was ubiquitously expressed in the neuronal tissues, especially in synaptic membrane and mitochondria of brain. The 29-kDa NIPSNAP1 was distributed on the cell surface, and NST interacted with the 29-kDa but not the 33-kDa NIPSNAP1. Although intrathecal injection of N/OFQ induced tactile allodynia in both wild-type and NIPSNAP1-deficient mice, the inhibition of N/OFQ-evoked tactile allodynia by NST seen in wild-type mice was completely lacking in the deficient mice. These results suggest that NIPSNAP1 is an interacting molecule of NST and plays a crucial role in pain transmission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects
  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Humans
  • Hyperalgesia / chemically induced
  • Hyperalgesia / genetics
  • Hyperalgesia / metabolism
  • Hyperalgesia / pathology
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria / genetics
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / agonists
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Opioid Peptides / adverse effects
  • Opioid Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Pain / genetics
  • Pain / metabolism*
  • Proteins / agonists
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism*
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Synaptic Membranes / genetics
  • Synaptic Membranes / metabolism
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects*
  • Synaptic Transmission / genetics

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • NIPSNAP1 protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nipsnap1 protein, mouse
  • Opioid Peptides
  • Proteins
  • nocistatin