A unique charged tyrosine-containing member of the adipokinetic hormone/red-pigment-concentrating hormone peptide family isolated and sequenced from two beetle species.
An identical neuropeptide was isolated from the corpora cardiaca of two beetle species, Melolontha melolontha and Geotrupes stercorosus. Its primary structure was determined by pulsed-liquid-phase sequencing employing Edman chemistry after enzymically deblocking the N-terminal pyroglutamate residue. The C-terminus was also blocked, as indicated by the lack of digestion when the peptide was incubated with carboxypeptidase A. The sequence of this peptide, which is designated Mem-CC, is pGlu-Leu-Asn-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Asp-Trp-NH2. It is a new member of the adipokinetic hormone/red-pigment-concentrating hormone (AKH/RPCH) family of peptides with two unusual structural features: it is charged and contains a tyrosine residue at position 4, where all other family members have a phenylalanine residue. Structure-activity studies in the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) and the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) revealed that the peptide was poorly active, owing to its structural uniqueness.
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Zoology Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000032:analysis*; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones / Q000737:chemistry; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000737:chemistry*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000032:analysis*
D000596:Amino Acids; D007301:Insect Hormones; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009842:Oligopeptides; C069011:adipokinetic hormone, beetle; C022059:red pigment-concentrating hormone; D014443:Tyrosine; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid