The Drosophila hugin gene codes for myostimulatory and ecdysis-modifying neuropeptides.
In a genomic screen we isolated the Drosophila gene hugin (hug, cytology 87C1-2) by cross-hybridisation to a human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor cDNA. Upon cDNA sequence analysis and in vitro expression assays, the hugin gene was found to encode a signal peptide containing proprotein that was further processed in Schneider-2 cells into peptides similar to known neuropeptides. Two of the peptides were similar to FXPRL-amides (pyrokinins) and to the ecdysis-triggering hormone, respectively. The former displayed myostimulatory activity in a bioassay on the cockroach hyperneural muscle preparation, as well as in the Drosophila heart muscle assay. Hugin is expressed during the later half of embryogenesis and during larval stages in a subgroup of neurosecretory cells of the suboesophageal ganglion. Ubiquitous ectopic hugin expression resulted in larval death predominantly at or shortly after ecdysis from second to third instar, suggesting that at least one of the posttranslational cleavage products affects molting of the larva by interfering with the regulation of ecdysis.
Developmental Biology Program, Institute of Biotechnology, Viikki Biocenter, PB 56, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
Xiaojuan
X
Meng
Gudrun
G
Wahlström
Tiina
T
Immonen
Meelis
M
Kolmer
Mika
M
Tirronen
Reinhard
R
Predel
Nisse
N
Kalkkinen
Tapio I
TI
Heino
Hannu
H
Sariola
Christophe
C
Roos
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018978:Molting / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C515386:Hug protein, Drosophila; D009479:Neuropeptides