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Phone: 212-241-5981 Fax: 212-860-3369 E-mail: Ferdinand.Vilim@mssm.edu
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To understand behavior and it's plasticity, it is essential to understand the neurotransmitters and neuromodulators that are involved. We have been using a variety of molecular, biochemical and histological techniques to identify and characterize the neurotransmitters and neuromodulators that are involved in the generation and plasticity of feeding behavior in Aplysia. Using these techniques, we can identify the transmitters used by specific neurons of interest. Conversely, we can identify novel neuronal elements in the feeding circuitry by mapping the expression of various neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. It is becoming clear that many neurons use multiple neurotransmitters and neuromodulators to accomplish their functions. The richness in the signaling systems of individual neurons may be critical in producing the richness in behavioral output.
For example, many of the neurons in the feeding circuitry of Aplysia contain a variety of neuropeptides. In many cases, the actions of the neuropeptide applied to the feeding circuitry parallel the actions produced by stimulating the neurons that contain them. For example, some of the command like neurons (e.g. CBI-2) that can generate fictive feeding when stimulated contain neuropeptides (FCAPs) that also can produce fictive feeding when applied to the feeding circuitry. Other neuropeptides can switch output of the feeding circuitry. For example, APGWamide can convert egestive fictive feeding to ingestive ones. Interestingly, one of the command like neurons (CBI-3) has similar actions on fictive feeding and contains APGWamide. Many of the command like neurons also contain multiple neuropeptides, and in some cases, multiple small molecule transmitters. The function of these multiple transmitter systems are likely to be relevant to behavior and plasticity in mammals and man.
Koh HY, Vilim FS, Jing J, Weiss KR.
Two neuropeptides colocalized in a command-like neuron use distinct
mechanisms to enhance its fast synaptic connection.
J Neurophysiol. 2003 Jul 2 [Epub ahead of print]  Read as PDF |
| Jing J, Vilim FS, Wu JS, Park JH, Weiss KR. Concerted
GABAergic actions of Aplysia feeding interneurons in motor program
specification.
J Neurosci. 2003 Jun 15;23(12):5283-94. Read as PDF |
| Dembrow NC, Jing J, Proekt A, Romero A, Vilim FS,
Cropper EC, Weiss KR.
A newly identified buccal interneuron initiates and modulates feeding
motor programs in Aplysia.
J Neurophysiol. 2003 Jun 11 [Epub ahead of print] Read as PDF |
| Furukawa Y, Nakamaru K, Sasaki K, Fujisawa Y, Minakata
H, Ohta S, Morishita F, Matsushima O, Li L, Alexeeva V, Ellis TA,
Dembrow NC, Jing J, Sweedler JV, Weiss KR, Vilim FS.
PRQFVamide, a novel pentapeptide identified from the CNS and gut of
Aplysia.
J Neurophysiol. 2003 Jun;89(6):3114-27. Epub 2003 Feb 26. Read as PDF |
| Nystedt JM, Brandt AM, Mandelin J, Vilim FS, Ziff EB,
Panula P.
Analysis of human neuropeptide FF gene expression.
J Neurochem. 2002 Sep;82(6):1330-42. Read as PDF |
| Sweedler JV, Li L, Rubakhin SS, Alexeeva V, Dembrow
NC, Dowling O, Jing J, Weiss KR, Vilim FS.
Identification and characterization of the feeding circuit-activating
peptides, a novel neuropeptide family of aplysia.
J Neurosci. 2002 Sep 1;22(17):7797-808. Read as PDF |
| Morgan PT, Jing J, Vilim FS, Weiss KR.
Interneuronal and peptidergic control of motor pattern switching in
Aplysia.
J Neurophysiol. 2002 Jan;87(1):49-61. Read as PDF |
| Vilim FS, Alexeeva V, Moroz LL, Li L, Moroz TP,
Sweedler JV, Weiss KR.
Cloning, expression and processing of the CP2 neuropeptide precursor of
Aplysia.
Peptides. 2001 Dec;22(12):2027-38. Read as PDF |
| Furukawa Y, Nakamaru K, Wakayama H, Fujisawa Y,
Minakata H, Ohta S, Morishita F, Matsushima O, Li L, Romanova E,
Sweedler JV, Park JH, Romero A, Cropper EC, Dembrow NC, Jing J, Weiss
KR, Vilim FS.
The enterins: a novel family of neuropeptides isolated from the enteric
nervous system and CNS of Aplysia.
J Neurosci. 2001 Oct 15;21(20):8247-61. Read as PDF |
| Li L, Floyd PD, Rubakhin SS, Romanova EV, Jing J,
Alexeeva VY, Dembrow NC, Weiss KR, Vilim FS, Sweedler JV.
Cerebrin prohormone processing, distribution and action in Aplysia
californica.
J Neurochem. 2001 Jun;77(6):1569-80. Read as PDF |
| Karhunen T, Vilim FS, Alexeeva V, Weiss KR, Church PJ.
Targeting of peptidergic vesicles in cotransmitting terminals.
J Neurosci. 2001 Feb 1;21(3):RC127. Read as PDF |
| Hurwitz I, Cropper EC, Vilim FS, Alexeeva V, Susswein
AJ, Kupfermann I, Weiss KR.
Serotonergic and peptidergic modulation of the buccal mass protractor
muscle (I2) in aplysia.
J Neurophysiol. 2000 Dec;84(6):2810-20. Read as PDF |
| Li L, Romanova EV, Rubakhin SS, Alexeeva V, Weiss KR,
Vilim FS, Sweedler JV.
Peptide profiling of cells with multiple gene products: combining
immunochemistry and MALDI mass spectrometry with on-plate
microextraction.
Anal Chem. 2000 Aug 15;72(16):3867-74. |
| Vilim FS, Cropper EC, Price DA, Kupfermann I, Weiss
KR.
Peptide cotransmitter release from motorneuron B16 in aplysia
californica: costorage, corelease, and functional implications.
J Neurosci. 2000 Mar 1;20(5):2036-42. Read as PDF |
| Onoprishvili I, Andria ML, Vilim FS, Hiller JM, Simon
EJ.
The bovine mu-opioid receptor: cloning of cDNA and pharmacological
characterization of the receptor expressed in mammalian cells.
Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1999 Nov 10;73(1-2):129-37. |
| Fujisawa Y, Furukawa Y, Ohta S, Ellis TA, Dembrow NC,
Li L, Floyd PD, Sweedler JV, Minakata H, Nakamaru K, Morishita F,
Matsushima O, Weiss KR, Vilim FS.
The Aplysia mytilus inhibitory peptide-related peptides:
identification, cloning, processing, distribution, and action.
J Neurosci. 1999 Nov 1;19(21):9618-34. Read as PDF |
| Evans CG, Vilim FS, Harish O, Kupfermann I, Weiss KR,
Cropper EC.
Modulation of radula opener muscles in Aplysia.
J Neurophysiol. 1999 Sep;82(3):1339-51. Read as PDF |
| Floyd PD, Li L, Rubakhin SS, Sweedler JV, Horn CC,
Kupfermann I, Alexeeva VY, Ellis TA, Dembrow NC, Weiss KR, Vilim FS.
Insulin prohormone processing, distribution, and relation to metabolism
in Aplysia californica.
J Neurosci. 1999 Sep 15;19(18):7732-41. Read as PDF |
| Vilim FS, Aarnisalo AA, Nieminen ML, Lintunen M,
Karlstedt K, Kontinen VK, Kalso E, States B, Panula P, Ziff E.
Gene for pain modulatory neuropeptide NPFF: induction in spinal cord by
noxious stimuli.
Mol Pharmacol. 1999 May;55(5):804-11. Read as PDF |
| Srivastava S, Osten P, Vilim FS, Khatri L, Inman G,
States B, Daly C, DeSouza S, Abagyan R, Valtschanoff JG, Weinberg RJ,
Ziff EB.
Novel anchorage of GluR2/3 to the postsynaptic density by the AMPA
receptor-binding protein ABP.
Neuron. 1998 Sep;21(3):581-91. Read as PDF |
| Osten P, Srivastava S, Inman GJ, Vilim FS, Khatri L,
Lee LM, States BA, Einheber S, Milner TA, Hanson PI, Ziff EB.
The AMPA receptor GluR2 C terminus can mediate a reversible,
ATP-dependent interaction with NSF and alpha- and beta-SNAPs.
Neuron. 1998 Jul;21(1):99-110. Read as PDF |
| Vilim FS, Cropper EC, Price DA, Kupfermann I, Weiss
KR.
Release of peptide cotransmitters in Aplysia: regulation and functional
implications.
J Neurosci. 1996 Dec 15;16(24):8105-14. Read as PDF |
| Vilim FS, Price DA, Lesser W, Kupfermann I, Weiss KR.
Costorage and corelease of modulatory peptide cotransmitters with
partially antagonistic actions on the accessory radula closer muscle of
Aplysia californica.
J Neurosci. 1996 Dec 15;16(24):8092-104. Read as PDF |
| Brezina V, Bank B, Cropper EC, Rosen S, Vilim FS,
Kupfermann I, Weiss KR.
Nine members of the myomodulin family of peptide cotransmitters at the
B16-ARC neuromuscular junction of Aplysia.
J Neurophysiol. 1995 Jul;74(1):54-72. |
| Cropper EC, Brezina V, Vilim FS, Harish O, Price DA,
Rosen S, Kupfermann I, Weiss KR.
FRF peptides in the ARC neuromuscular system of Aplysia: purification
and physiological actions.
J Neurophysiol. 1994 Nov;72(5):2181-95. |
| Probst WC, Cropper EC, Heierhorst J, Hooper SL, Jaffe
H, Vilim F, Beushausen S, Kupfermann I, Weiss KR.
cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of Aplysia twitchin may mediate
modulation of muscle contractions by neuropeptide cotransmitters.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Aug 30;91(18):8487-91. |
| Heierhorst J, Probst WC, Vilim FS, Buku A, Weiss KR.
Autophosphorylation of molluscan twitchin and interaction of its kinase
domain with calcium/calmodulin.
J Biol Chem. 1994 Aug 19;269(33):21086-93. |
| Vilim FS, Cropper EC, Rosen SC, Tenenbaum R,
Kupfermann I, Weiss KR.
Structure, localization, and action of buccalin B: a bioactive peptide
from Aplysia.
Peptides. 1994;15(6):959-69. |
| Miller MW, Beushausen S, Cropper EC, Eisinger K, Stamm
S, Vilim FS, Vitek A, Zajc A, Kupfermann I, Brosius J, et al.
The buccalin-related neuropeptides: isolation and characterization of
an Aplysia cDNA clone encoding a family of peptide cotransmitters.
J Neurosci. 1993 Aug;13(8):3346-57. |
| Weiss KR, Brezina V, Cropper EC, Heierhorst J, Hooper
SL, Probst WC, Rosen SC, Vilim FS, Kupfermann I.
Physiology and biochemistry of peptidergic cotransmission in Aplysia.
J Physiol Paris. 1993;87(3):141-51. Review. Read as PDF |
| Weiss KR, Brezina V, Cropper EC, Hooper SL, Miller MW,
Probst WC, Vilim FS, Kupfermann I.
Peptidergic co-transmission in Aplysia: functional implications for
rhythmic behaviors.
Experientia. 1992 May 15;48(5):456-63. Review. |
| Miller MW, Alevizos A, Cropper EC, Vilim FS, Karagogeos
D, Kupfermann I, Weiss KR.
Localization of myomodulin-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous
system and peripheral tissues of Aplysia californica.
J Comp Neurol. 1991 Dec 22;314(4):627-44. |
| Cropper EC, Vilim FS, Alevizos A, Tenenbaum R, Kolks
MA, Rosen S, Kupfermann I, Weiss KR.
Structure, bioactivity, and cellular localization of myomodulin B: a
novel Aplysia peptide.
Peptides. 1991 Jul-Aug;12(4):683-90. |
| Cropper EC, Miller MW, Vilim FS, Tenenbaum R,
Kupfermann I, Weiss KR.
Buccalin is present in the cholinergic motor neuron B16 of Aplysia and
it depresses accessory radula closer muscle contractions evoked by
stimulation of B16.
Brain Res. 1990 Mar 26;512(1):175-9. |
| Mahadik SP, Vilim F, Korenovsky A, Karpiak SE.
GM1 ganglioside protects nucleus basalis from excitotoxin damage:
reduced cortical cholinergic losses and animal mortality.
J Neurosci Res. 1988 Aug;20(4):479-83. |
| Karpiak SE, Vilim F, Mahadik SP.
Gangliosides accelerate rat neonatal learning and levels of cortical
acetylcholinesterases.
Dev Neurosci. 1983-84;6(2):127-35. |