Insect ENF family peptides with diverse biological activities display similar core structures in solution

A family of small peptides with 23-25 amino acid residues from insect blood (hemolymph) displays multiple functions such as inducing paralysis, stimul ating plasmatocyte spreading, and inhibiting larval growth. These peptides contain a consensus sequence of 'ENF' at their amino-termini and are referr ed to as peptides of the ENF family. Three members of the ENF family, Mandu ca sexta paralytic peptide I (PPI), Pseudoplusia includens plasmatocyte spr eading peptide (PSP1), and Pseudaletia separata growth blocking peptide (GB P) all have a similar core structure in solution with similarity to the car boxyl-terminal subdomain of epidermal growth factor.