The revolution in insect neuropeptides illustrated by the adipokinetic hormone/red pigment-concentrating hormone family of peptides.
The last decade has seen a surge in the knowledge on primary structures of insect neuropeptides. Particularly successful were isolations and sequence determinations of more than 30 members of the adipokinetic hormone/red pigment-concentrating hormone (AKH/RPCH) family of peptides. This brief overview describes the techniques used to obtain data on purification and structure such as high performance liquid chromatography, Edman sequencing and mass spectrometry. Moreover, a short account on the precursors and on the multiple functions of the peptides of the AKH/RPCH family in various crustacean and insect species is given.
Gäde
G
G
Zoology Department, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D007313:Insecta; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D007301:Insect Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009842:Oligopeptides; C044833:adipokinetic hormone; C022059:red pigment-concentrating hormone; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid