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Title: MALDI-TOF/TOF MASS SPECTROMETRIC ASSIGNMENT OF LEU/ILE IN PVK/CAP2B NEUROPEPTIDES FROM SINGLE NEUROHEMAL ORGAN PREPARATIONS OF FOUR FLIES

Author
item Nachman, Ronald
item RUSSELL, WILLIAM - TEXAS A&M UNIV
item RUSSELL, DAVID - TEXAS A&M UNIV
item PREDEL, REINHARD - SAXON ACAD OF SCIENCES

Submitted to: International Conference on Arthropods Chemical Physiological ...
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2005
Publication Date: 4/15/2006
Citation: Nachman, R.J., Russell, W.K., Russell, D.H., Predel, R. 2006. MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometric assignment of Leu/Ile in PVK/CAP2b neuropeptides from single neurohemal organ preparations of four flies. Proceedings of International Conference on Arthropods: Chemical, Physiological and Environmental Perspectives. 3:49-53.

Interpretive Summary: Because of problems with the development of resistance to conventional pesticides, there is a critical need for new concepts and alternative approaches in controlling insect pests. The basic premise of this research is that neuropeptides (short chains of amino acids) serve as potent messengers in insects to regulate vital functions. New, selective control measures may be developed by designing metabolically stable mimics of these neuropeptides that actively inhibit or over-stimulate functions regulated by them, resulting in disruption of the internal environment of the insect. We report on the use of state-of-the-art analytical techniques to unambiguously characterize the structures of the regulatory neuropeptides via direct analysis of a single organ within four species of flies, specifically the housefly, fleshfly, stable fly and horn fly. The housefly is a pest of man, poultry and confined livestock; whereas the latter two flies are pests of range livestock in the US. A deeper understanding of the specific structures of neuropeptides, where they are stored and released, and how these neuropeptides regulate critical processes in flies will aid in the design of strategies to disrupt feeding and survival. The work brings us one step closer to the development of practical neuropeptide-like substances that will be effective in controlling pest flies in an environmentally friendly fashion.

Technical Abstract: MALDI-TOF/TOF tandem mass spectrometry has been applied to determine the complete sequences of the PVK/CAP2b neuropeptides in abdominal dorsal sheath tissue of the housefly Musca domestica, flesh fly Neobellieria bullata, stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans and horn fly Haematobia irritans. This peptidomic analysis of single neurohemal organ preparations allows, for the first time in arthropods, the unambiguous assignment of internal Leu/Ile positions not distinguishable by previous mass spectrometric techniques. The identification of these novel neuropeptides adds to our knowledge of the peptidomes of flies, and can aid in the development of neuropeptide-based control strategies of these insect pests.