Preprotachykinins are precursor proteins that are modified into tachykinin peptides. Via alternative splicing and post-translational modifications, preprotachykinins produce multiple peptide neurotransmitters.
There are two human preprotachykinins:[1]
- preprotachykinin-1 (also PPT-1, PPT-I, or PPT-A), which produces substance P and neurokinin A (also called "substance K"), and the derived neuropeptide K and neurokinin gamma.
- preprotachykinin-2 (also PPT-2, PPT-II, or PPT-B), which produces neurokinin B.