ISOLATION AND PRIMARY STRUCTURES OF NEUROPEPTIDES OF THE AKH RPCH FAMILY FROM VARIOUS TERMITE SPECIES

We have isolated neuropeptides of the AKH/RPCH family from extracts of whole heads of four termite species (Mastotermes darwiniensis, Microh odotermes viator, Hodotermes mossambicus, and Trinervitemres trinervoi des) using the effect of mobilizing lipids in Locusta migratoria for b ioassay. Isolation was essentially achieved by two steps of reversed-p hase chromatography (on phenyl-support followed by C-18). The peptides were identified by Edman degradation after deblocking with oxoprolyl peptidase. Each termite species contained only one AKH/RPCH family mem ber. The primary structure in M. darwiniensis and T. trinertoides is p Glu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Asn-Trp-NH2, a peptide previously found mainly in cockroaches and code named Pea-CAH-L. The peptide from M. viator h as the primary sequence pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Asn-Trp-NH2,; it is a novel member of the family and is code-named Miv-CC (Microhodotermes viator corpus cardiacum peptide). Phylogenetic relations between the k nown cockroach and mantid AKH/RPCH octapeptides and the termite peptid es from this study could be revealed employing the parsimony method. B ased on a computer analysis, using PAUP 3.1.1., we concluded that term ites are plesiomorphic with regard to cockroaches, and mantids are the sister taxon to the termite/cockroach group.