Bombesin is a 14-amino acid peptide that belongs to the Bombesin-related peptide family and plays an important role in gastrin release and G protein receptor activation[1, 2]. Bombesin, with a carboxyl terminus ending in Gly-His-Leu-Met-NH2, was originally isolated from the skin of the European bell toad (Bombina bombina). Its homologous peptides (such as gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and neuromedin B (NMB)) were later found in mammals[3]. Bombesin is a multifunctional neuropeptide that can stimulate gastric and pancreatic secretion, gastrointestinal hormone release, gallbladder contraction, and bronchial contraction[4]. Bombesin is present in amphibian gastric endocrine cells, avian glandular stomach endocrine cells, and avian brain. In mammals, Bombesin is mainly present in nerve cells and fibers[5]. Bombesin can stimulate nuclear factor κB activation and the expression of proangiogenic factors in prostate cancer cells[6].
References:
[1] Vigna S R, Thorndyke M C. Bombesin[M]//The comparative physiology of regulatory peptides. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 1989: 34-60.
[2] LaPelusa A, Jan A. Biochemistry, bombesin[J]. 2019.
[3] Tian Z. QUB-1073: A Bioactice Peptide from the Skin Secretion of Phyllomedusa Rohdei[D]. Queen's University Belfast. Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, December, 2018.
[4] Cho W K. Role of the neuropeptide, bombesin, in bile secretion[J]. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 1997, 70(4): 409.
[5] Chejfec G, Lee I, Warren W H, et al. Bombesin in human neuroendocrine (NE) neoplasms[J]. Peptides, 1985, 6: 107-112.
[6] Levine L, Lucci III J A, Pazdrak B, et al. Bombesin stimulates nuclear factor κB activation and expression of proangiogenic factors in prostate cancer cells[J]. Cancer research, 2003, 63(13): 3495-3502.