title: A third active AKH is present in the pyrgomorphid grasshoppers Phymateus morbillosus and Dictyophorus spumans.
abstract: The corpora cardiaca of the African pyrgomorphid grasshoppers Phymateus morbillosus and Dictyophorus spumans contain three adipokinetic hormones (AKHs): besides two already known AKHs, Phm-AKH-I and Scg-AKH-II (Gäde et al., 1996 [Gäde, G., Kellner, R., Rinehart, K.L., 1996. Pyrgomorphid grasshoppers of the genus Phymateus contain species-specific decapeptides of the AKH/RPCH family regulating lipid-mobilisation during flight. Physiol. Entomol. 21, 193-202]), a new AKH-III, denoted Phm-AKH-III, pGlu-Ile-Asn-Phe-Thr-Pro-Trp-Trp-NH(2), has been characterised. This is only the second AKH-III identified so far, thus, only three insect species - all of them grasshoppers - contain three active AKHs. Phm-AKH-III differs from Lom-AKH-III from the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, only in position 2: isoleucine is present instead of leucine. The structure of the Phm-AKH-III was confirmed by synthesis, subsequent mass determination and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The synthetic peptide also induced hyperlipaemia in D. spumans and L. migratoria.
authors.affiliation: University of Cape Town, Department of Zoology, 7701, Rondebosch, South Africa. kjsiegert@hotmail.com
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Siegert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kellner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gäde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000201:enzymology*; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D007301:Insect Hormones; D009842:Oligopeptides; C044833:adipokinetic hormone; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid