title: The fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster contains a novel charged adipokinetic-hormone-family peptide.
abstract: A member of the RPCH/AKH (red-pigment-concentrating hormone/adipokinetic hormone) family of arthropod neuropeptides was identified in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, and its structure was determined by automated Edman degradation and m.s. using fast-atom-bombardment ionization and a tandem hybrid instrument capable of high sensitivity. The sequence of this peptide, which we call 'DAKH', is pGlu-Leu-Thr-Phe-Ser-Pro-Asp-Trp-NH2 (where pGlu is pyroglutamic acid and Trp-NH2 is tryptophan carboxyamide). H.p.l.c. analyses of extracts of the three body segments revealed that more than 80% of the peptide is contained in the thorax. Although DAKH is typical of family members in its general structure and distribution in the animal, it is unique in containing a residue which is charged under physiological conditions. The evolutionary significance of this change is considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9070.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Noyes
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Slaughter
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gaskell
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000032:analysis*; D006110:Grasshoppers; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D007301:Insect Hormones; D009842:Oligopeptides; C044833:adipokinetic hormone; C065368:DAKH peptide; C022059:red pigment-concentrating hormone; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid