Identification of [<script type="math/tex">Arg^{7}</script>] corazonin in the silkworm, **Bombyx mori** and the cricket, **Gryllus bimaculatus**, as a factor inducing dark color in an albino strain of the locust, **Locusta migratoria**

Hua, Y.J.; Ishibashi, J.; Saito, H.; Baggerman, G.; et al.

doi:10.1016/S0022-1910(99)00173-0

Title

Identification of [ $Arg^{7}$ ] corazonin in the silkworm, **Bombyx mori** and the cricket, **Gryllus bimaculatus**, as a factor inducing dark color in an albino strain of the locust, **Locusta migratoria**

Author

Hua, Y.J.

Ishibashi, J.

Saito, H.

Baggerman, G.

et al.

Abstract

The neuropeptides inducing dark color in albino nymphs of the migratory locust Locusta migratoria were isolated from the larval brain of the silkworm, Bombyx mori and from the adult corpora cardiaca (CC) of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, respectively, and their amino acid sequences identified. The two peptides isolated from the two different species are identical to [Arg(7)] corazonin, a neuropeptide known to be present in a cockroach and others. This peptide induces a dark color in albino nymphs of L. migratoria at fmol levels, and a high dose of greater than or equal to 100 pmol caused albino locusts to turn completely black, but it influenced neither body color nor metamorphosis in B. mori and G. bimaculatus. Therefore, the physiological functions of [Arg(7)] corazonin in the silkworm and the cricket remain unknown. The present study demonstrated the usefulness of the albino strain of L. mirgatoria as a specific bioassay system for this peptide. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Journal of insect physiology. - Oxford

Publication

Oxford : 2000

ISSN

0022-1910

DOI

10.1016/S0022-1910(99)00173-0

Volume/pages

46 :6 (2000) , p. 853-859