Peptide processing and targeting in the neuronal secretory pathway.

The abdominal ganglion of the marine mollusk Aplysia contains a pair of identified neuronal clusters, the bag cells, which control egg laying by means of a number of unique regulatory mechanisms. Each neuron in the bag cell clusters synthesizes several peptides derived from a single prohormone and packages them into separate vesicles. These vesicles are then differentially localized in specific neuronal processes, thus segregating peptides destined for autocrine and hormonal release sites. Therefore in this system, protein trafficking through the secretory pathway organizes multiple peptide neurochemical messengers to efficiently regulate simple behaviors.