Arthropod neuropeptides structure

G. Gade H. G. Marco, Structure, Function and Mode of Action of Selected Arthropod Neuropeptides. In Studies in Natural Product Chemistry (Bioactive Natural Products) Atta-ur-Ftahman, Ed. Elsevier Amsterdam, 2006 Vol. 33, pp 69-139. 

STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND MODE OF ACTION OF SELECT ARTHROPOD NEUROPEPTIDES... 

The similarity of the crustacean blanching substance (Factor A) found in crustacean sinus glands and insect corpora cardiaca has been confirmed by the structural identification of a family of neuropeptides common to arthropods. The first identified member of this family is RPCH (red pigment concentrating hormone), an octapeptide (pGlu-Leu-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Gly-Trp-amide) isolated from eyestalks of the shrimp Pandalus borealis (28). Shortly thereafter, a related peptide--designated as adipokinetic hormone (AKH)--was purified from locust... 

It is by no means surprising that structurally homologous neuropeptides have been identified in crustaceans and insects - they share, after all, a common ancestry. The functions of some of these neuropeptides have not been conserved in these arthropod groups and we discuss here a selection of neuropeptide families common to both. For each peptide family, we... 

The study of arthropods is of intense interest for basic research into comparative endocrinology. Active areas of research involve the evolutionary endocrinology of the MIH/CHH family of neuropeptides. Slight alterations in structure result in dramatic changes in function. These peptides evolved from a common ancestor to develop into an extremely multifunctional family of hormones. 

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