Structural organization of the Helicoverpa zea gene encoding the precursor protein for pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide and other neuropeptides.
Sex pheromone biosynthesis in a number of moth species is induced by a conserved 33-amino acid amidated neuropeptide PBAN (pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide). We have isolated and characterized the Helicoverpa zea PBAN cDNA corresponding to a 766-nucleotide mRNA that is expressed in the subesophageal ganglion of adult moths. This mRNA is encoded on a transcription unit comprising 6 exons. The longest open reading frame of the cDNA encodes a 194-amino acid precursor protein that contains the PBAN peptide sequence. Proteolytic processing of this protein, which has structural features consistent with its being a preprohormone, is predicted to generate Hez-PBAN and four additional neuropeptides having a common C-terminal pentapeptide motif, Phe-Xaa-Pro-(Arg or Lys)-Leu (Xaa = Gly, Ser, or Thr), which is also found in insect pyrokinin and myotropin peptide families.
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Department of Entomology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva 14456.
Knipple
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Roelofs
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D012831:Bombyx / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009479:Neuropeptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012724:Sex Attractants; C079709:pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, Helicoverpa zea; D004247:DNA