title: Identification of the gregarization-associated dark-pigmentotropin in locusts through an albino mutant.
abstract: In response to crowding, locusts develop characteristic black patterns that are well discernible in the gregarious phase at outbreaks. We report here a dark-color-inducing neuropeptide (dark-pigmentotropin) from the corpora cardiaca of two plague locusts, Schistocerca gregaria and Locusta migratoria. The chromatographic isolation of this neuropeptide was monitored by using a bioassay with an albino mutant of L. migratoria. The neurohormone, consisting of 11 amino acids, is identical to [His7] corazonin, previously isolated from corpora cardiaca of another acridid without known function. The present results show that even in isolated (solitary) nymphs, [His7] corazonin induces gregarious black patterns. Its primary structure shows some similarity with the vertebrate melanophore stimulating hormone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Insect Physiology and Behavior, National Institute of Sericultural and Entomological Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Loof
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schoofs
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baggerman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waelkens
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Derua
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Milner
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yerushalmi
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pener
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D009154:Mutation; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000502:physiology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D010860:Pigments, Biological