title: Molecular identification of the insect adipokinetic hormone receptors.
abstract: The insect adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) are a large family of peptide hormones that are involved in the mobilization of sugar and lipids from the insect fat body during energy-requiring activities such as flight and locomotion, but that also contribute to hemolymph sugar homeostasis. Here, we have identified the first insect AKH receptors, namely those from the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster and the silkworm Bombyx mori. These results represent a breakthrough for insect molecular endocrinology, because it will lead to the cloning of all AKH receptors from all model insects used in AKH research, and, therefore, to a better understanding of AKH heterogeneity and actions. Interestingly, the insect AKH receptors are structurally and evolutionarily related to the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors from vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Zoological Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Staubli
authors.forename: Thomas J D
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cazzamali
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sondergaard
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roepstorff
authors.forename: Cornelis J P
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Grimmelikhuijzen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000235:genetics*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011966:Receptors, LHRH / Q000737:chemistry; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011966:Receptors, LHRH; C044833:adipokinetic hormone; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid