Davunetide is a neuroprotective peptide derived from activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP).1 It promotes tubulin assembly in a cell-free assay when used at a concentration of 1 fM.2 Davunetide (1 fM) protects against cytotoxicity induced by tetrodotoxin , a peptide derived from amyloid-β (Aβ), or zinc in isolated neonatal cerebral cortical cells.1,2 Intravitreal administration of davunetide (4 µl of a 100 µg/ml solution) inhibits increases in cleaved caspase-3 and decreases in Bcl-2 levels in retina isolated from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.3 It improves survival in a superoxide dismutase 1 mutant (SOD1G93A) transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when administered at 10 µg/animal.4 Davunetide prevents decreases in brain choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity and prevents memory deficits in the Morris water maze in an Apoe-/- mouse model of neurodegeneration.1
1.Bassan, M., Zamostiano, R., Davidson, A., et al.Complete sequence of a novel protein containing a femtomolar-activity-dependent neuroprotective peptideJ. Neurochem.72(3)1283-1293(1999) 2.Divinski, I., Mittelman, L., and Gozes, I.A femtomolar acting octapeptide interacts with tubulin and protects astrocytes against zinc intoxicationJ. Biol. Chem.279(27)28531-28538(2004) 3.Scuderi, S., D’Amico, A.G., Castorina, A., et al.Davunetide (NAP) protects the retina against early diabetic injury by reducing apoptotic deathJ. Mol. Neurosci.54(3)395-404(2014) 4.Jouroukhin, Y., Ostritsky, R., Assaf, Y., et al.NAP (davunetide) modifies disease progression in a mouse model of severe neurodegeneration: Protection against impairments in axonal transportNeurobiol. Dis.5679-94(2013)