title: Identification of a G protein-coupled receptor for pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide from pheromone glands of the moth Helicoverpa zea.
abstract: Pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN), a peptide produced by the subesophageal ganglion, is used by a variety of moths to regulate pheromone production. PBAN acts directly on pheromone gland cells by using calcium and cAMP as second messengers. We have identified a gene encoding a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) from pheromone glands of the female moth Helicoverpa zea. The gene was identified based on sequence identity to a group of GPCRs from Drosophila that are homologous to neuromedin U receptors in vertebrates. The full-length PBAN receptor was subsequently cloned, expressed in Sf9 insect cells, and shown to mobilize calcium in response to PBAN. This response was dose-dependent (EC50 = 25 nM) with a maximum response at 300 nM and a minimal observable response at 10 nM. Four additional peptides produced by the PBAN-encoding gene were also tested for activity, and it was determined that three had similar activity to PBAN and the other was slightly less active. Peptides belonging to the same family as PBAN, namely pyrokinins, as well as the vertebrate neuromedin U peptide also induced a calcium response. We have identified a GPCR for the PBAN/pyrokinin family of peptides with a known function of stimulating pheromone biosynthesis in female moths. It is related to several receptors from insects (Drosophila and Anopheles) and to neuromedin U and ghrelin receptors from vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, 407 Science II, Ames, IA 50011-3222, USA.
authors.forename: Man-Yeon
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Emily-Jean
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Fuerst
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rafaeli
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jurenka
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017344:Genes, Insect; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010675:Pheromones; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C079709:pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, Helicoverpa zea; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins