Molecular cloning, genomic organization, and expression of a C-type (Manduca sexta-type) allatostatin preprohormone from Drosophila melanogaster

TY - JOUR

T1 - Molecular cloning, genomic organization, and expression of a C-type (Manduca sexta-type) allatostatin preprohormone from Drosophila melanogaster

AU - Williamson, M

AU - Lenz, C

AU - Winther , A M

AU - Nässel, D R

AU - Grimmelikhuijzen, C J

N1 - Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

PY - 2001/3/23

Y1 - 2001/3/23

N2 - The insect allatostatins are a diverse group of neuropeptides that obtained their names by their inhibitory actions on the corpora allata (two endocrine glands near the insect brain), where they block the biosynthesis of juvenile hormone (a terpenoid important for development and reproduction). Chemically, the allatostatins can be subdivided into three different peptide groups: the large group of A-type (cockroach-type) allatostatins, which have the common C-terminal sequence Y/FXFGLamide; the B-type (cricket-type) allatostatins, which have the C-terminal sequence W(X(6))Wamide in common; and a single allatostatin that we now call C-type allatostatin that was first discovered in the moth Manduca sexta, and which has a nonamidated C terminus, and a structure unrelated to the A- and B-type allatostatins. We have previously cloned the preprohormones for the A- and B-type allatostatins from Drosophila melanogaster. Here we report on the cloning of a Drosophila C-type allatostatin preprohormone (DAP-C). DAP-C is 121 amino acid residues long and contains one copy of a peptide sequence that in its processed form has the sequence Y in position 4) from the Manduca sexta C-type allatostatin. The DAP-C gene has three introns and four exons and is located at position 32D2-3 on the left arm of the second chromosome. Northern blots show that the gene is strongly expressed in larvae and adult flies, but less in pupae and embryos. In situ hybridizations of larvae show that the gene is expressed in various neurons of the brain and abdominal ganglia and in endocrine cells of the midgut. This is the first publication on the structure of a C-type allatostatin from insects other than moths and the first report on the presence of all three types of allatostatins in a representative of the insect order Diptera (flies).

AB - The insect allatostatins are a diverse group of neuropeptides that obtained their names by their inhibitory actions on the corpora allata (two endocrine glands near the insect brain), where they block the biosynthesis of juvenile hormone (a terpenoid important for development and reproduction). Chemically, the allatostatins can be subdivided into three different peptide groups: the large group of A-type (cockroach-type) allatostatins, which have the common C-terminal sequence Y/FXFGLamide; the B-type (cricket-type) allatostatins, which have the C-terminal sequence W(X(6))Wamide in common; and a single allatostatin that we now call C-type allatostatin that was first discovered in the moth Manduca sexta, and which has a nonamidated C terminus, and a structure unrelated to the A- and B-type allatostatins. We have previously cloned the preprohormones for the A- and B-type allatostatins from Drosophila melanogaster. Here we report on the cloning of a Drosophila C-type allatostatin preprohormone (DAP-C). DAP-C is 121 amino acid residues long and contains one copy of a peptide sequence that in its processed form has the sequence Y in position 4) from the Manduca sexta C-type allatostatin. The DAP-C gene has three introns and four exons and is located at position 32D2-3 on the left arm of the second chromosome. Northern blots show that the gene is strongly expressed in larvae and adult flies, but less in pupae and embryos. In situ hybridizations of larvae show that the gene is expressed in various neurons of the brain and abdominal ganglia and in endocrine cells of the midgut. This is the first publication on the structure of a C-type allatostatin from insects other than moths and the first report on the presence of all three types of allatostatins in a representative of the insect order Diptera (flies).

KW - Amino Acid Sequence

KW - Animals

KW - Base Sequence

KW - Cloning, Molecular

KW - DNA, Complementary

KW - Drosophila melanogaster

KW - In Situ Hybridization

KW - Insect Proteins

KW - Manduca

KW - Molecular Sequence Data

KW - Peptides

KW - Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid

KW - Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

U2 - 10.1006/bbrc.2001.4565

DO - 10.1006/bbrc.2001.4565

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 11263981

SN - 0006-291X

VL - 282

SP - 124

EP - 130

JO - Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

JF - Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

IS - 1

ER -