title: The newly discovered insect order Mantophasmatodea contains a novel member of the adipokinetic hormone family of peptides.
abstract: A novel member of the AKH/RPCH family of peptides has been identified from the corpus cardiacum of an, as yet, unidentified species of the newly discovered insect order Mantophasmatodea from Namibia. The primary sequence of the peptide, which is denoted Manto-CC, was deduced from multiple MS(N) electrospray mass data to be an octapeptide: pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Gly-Trp amide. Synthetic Manto-CC co-elutes on reversed-phase HPLC with the natural peptide from the gland of the insect. Interestingly, Manto-CC is structurally very closely related (only one point mutation) to the AKH/RPCH peptides previously identified in mostly more basal insect taxa (Odonata, Blattodea, and Ensifera) and in Crustacea, the sister group of insects, whereas larger structural differences occur with peptides from Mantodea and Phasmatodea, which are thought to be close relatives of Mantophasmatodea. Functionally, Manto-CC may be employed to activate glycogen phosphorylase to mobilize carbohydrates.
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, ZA-7701 Rondebosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gäde
authors.forename: Heather G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Marco
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simek
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marais
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000737:chemistry; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D007313:Insecta / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
chemical_list: D007301:Insect Hormones; D009842:Oligopeptides; C044833:adipokinetic hormone; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid