Conservation of the function counts: homologous neurons express sequence-related neuropeptides that originate from different genes.
By means of single-cell matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, we analysed neuropeptide expression in all FXPRLamide/pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide synthesizing neurons of the adult tobacco hawk moth, Manduca sexta. Mass spectra clearly suggest a completely identical processing of the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide-precursor in the mandibular, maxillary and labial neuromeres of the subesophageal ganglion. Only in the pban-neurons of the labial neuromere, products of two neuropeptide genes, namely the pban-gene and the capa-gene, were detected. Both of these genes expressed, amongst others, sequence-related neuropeptides (extended WFGPRLamides). We speculate that the expression of the two neuropeptide genes is a plesiomorph character typical of moths. A detailed examination of the neuroanatomy and the peptidome of the (two) pban-neurons in the labial neuromere of moths with homologous neurons of different insects indicates a strong conservation of the function of this neuroendocrine system. In other insects, however, the labial neurons either express products of the fxprl-gene or products of the capa-gene. The processing of the respective genes is reduced to extended WFGPRLamides in each case and yields a unique peptidome in the labial cells. Thus, sequence-related messenger molecules are always produced in these cells and it seems that the respective neurons recruited different neuropeptide genes for this motif.
Neupert
Susanne
S
Institute of Zoology, Friedrich-Schiller, University of Jena, Jena, Germany. mail@susanne-neupert.de
Huetteroth
Wolf
W
Schachtner
Joachim
J
Predel
Reinhard
R
D000818:Animals; D017952:Ganglia, Invertebrate / Q000166:cytology; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018402:Manduca / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods
D019476:Insect Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C079709:pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, Helicoverpa zea