Identification of myotropic neuropeptides from the brain and corpus cardiacum-corpus allatum complex of the beetle, Zophobas atratus.
The neuropeptide profiles of the two major neuro-endocrinological organs, brain and retrocerebral complex corpus cardiacum-corpus allatum (CC/CA) of adult beetles, Zophobas atratus Fabricius (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae) were analyzed by a combination of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF/TOF MS). The homological semi-isolated heart bioassay was used to screen HPLC fractions for myotropic activity in tissues, revealing several cardiostimulatory and cardioinhibitory factors from both the brain and CC/CA. Analysis of HPLC fractions by MALDI-TOF MS identified seven mass ions that could be assigned to other known peptides: leucomyosuppressin (LMS), Tribolium castaneum pyrokinin 2, sulfakinin 1, myoinhibitory peptide 4, a truncated NVP-like peptide, Tenebrio molitor AKH and crustacean cardioactive peptide. In addition, two novel peptides, myosuppressin (pEDVEHVFLRFa), which differs from LMS by one amino acid (E for D at position 4) and pyrokinin-like peptide (LPHYTPRLa) were also identified. To establish cardioactive properties of some of the identified peptides, chemical synthesis was carried out and their activities were tested using the heart bioassay.
Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland. pmarcin@amu.edu.pl
Pawel
P
Marciniak
Neil
N
Audsley
Mariola
M
Kuczer
Grzegorz
G
Rosinski
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D003335:Corpora Allata / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
D009479:Neuropeptides