A novel member of the adipokinetic peptide family in a "living fossil", the ice crawler Galloisiana yuasai, is the first identified neuropeptide from the order Grylloblattodea.
This is the first report on the structural identity of a neuropeptide of the insect order Grylloblattodea. A peptide was isolated and sequenced from the retrocerebral corpora cardiaca-corpora allata complex of the ice crawler, Galloisiana yuasai. The sequence of the peptide was deduced from the multiple MS(N) electrospray mass data as that of an octapeptide: pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Thr-Trp amide. The retention time on reversed-phase HPLC and the CID MS(2) mass spectra of a synthetic peptide with the same primary structure were exactly the same as of the natural peptide. The sequence represents a novel peptide of the adipokinetic hormone family which contains presently 50 members. The primary structure differs in only one position to a few previously discovered AKHs. A scenario is outlined that makes it likely that the most recently discovered insect order, the Mantophasmatodea, and the Grylloblattodea are closely related.
Gäde
Gerd
G
Zoology Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, ZA-7701 Rondebosch, South Africa. gerd.gade@uct.ac.za
Simek
Petr
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D009987:Orthoptera / Q000378:metabolism*; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification
D007301:Insect Hormones; D009842:Oligopeptides; C044833:adipokinetic hormone; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid