Neurotensin has a variety of physiological roles:
Neurotensin exerts its effects through three main receptors:
Neurotensin and its receptors have been implicated in the proliferation, migration, and DNA synthesis of tumor cells . The NT/NTSR1 complex, in particular, activates phospholipase C (PLC), leading to the production of inositol triphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG) from membrane phospholipids . This signaling pathway is crucial for various cellular processes, including those involved in cancer progression .
Recombinant neurotensin is produced using various expression systems, including the sf9 insect cell line. This recombinant form is often tagged with a His-tag for purification purposes and is used in research to study the peptide’s functions and interactions . The recombinant protein is typically expressed in E. coli and purified to a high degree of purity .
Recombinant neurotensin is used in various research applications, including: