The objectives of the proposed research are to: 1) isolate hypertrehalosemic neurohormone (HTH) from the nervous system of Blaberus discoidalis cockroaches; and 2) to characterize the primary structure of the isolated neuropeptide. HTH increases hemolymph trehalose concentrations and is stored and released from the corpora cardiaca (CC). HTH is extracted from whole heads of B. discoidalis with acidic organic solvent followed by solid phase extraction and final purification on reverse phase HPLC. The homogenous peptide will be structurally analyzed by controlled degradation by exopeptitdases of Edman degradation followed by DABS-CL HPLC amino acid analysis. The proposed research is a prerequisite for further definitive study of HTH neuroendocrinology. Adequate amounts of pure HTH must be available for the development of antibodies, radioimmunoassays, immunohistochemical techniques, definitive pharmacological studies on neurosecretion, analog development, and mode of action studies. The results of this research will provide a simple model for the study of basic neuroendocrine mechanisms not possible in the more complicated vertebrate nervous system. This system will provide information, not only on fundamental processes of neurosecretion, but may also lead to future ways by which neurosecretion or its resultant hormones may be manipulated for insect control.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS020137-03
Application #
3400325
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Project Start
1984-09-01
Project End
1987-08-31
Budget Start
1986-09-01
Budget End
1987-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Texas A&M University
Department
Type
Earth Sciences/Resources
DUNS #
City
College Station
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77845
Hayes, T K; Strey, A; Belk, S et al. (1997) Biochemical characterization of mosquito kinin and related receptors. Ann N Y Acad Sci 814:342-5
Gade, G; Hayes, T K (1995) Structure-activity relationships for Periplaneta americana hypertrehalosemic hormone. I: The importance of side chains and termini. Peptides 16:1173-80
Hayes, T K; Guan, X C; Johnson, V et al. (1994) Structure-activity studies of allatostatin 4 on the inhibition of juvenile hormone biosynthesis by corpora allata: the importance of individual side chains and stereochemistry. Peptides 15:1165-71
Strey, A; Hayes, T K; Isaac, R E (1993) Metabolism of insect hypertrehalosemic hormone in Blaberus discoidalis cockroaches. Biochem Soc Trans 21 ( Pt 3):244S
Schoofs, L; Holman, G M; Hayes, T K et al. (1991) Isolation, primary structure, and synthesis of locustapyrokinin: a myotropic peptide of Locusta migratoria. Gen Comp Endocrinol 81:97-104
Schoofs, L; Holman, G M; Hayes, T K et al. (1990) Isolation, identification and synthesis of locustamyotropin (Lom-MT), a novel biologically active insect peptide. Peptides 11:427-33
Hayes, T K; Keeley, L L (1990) Structure-activity relationships on hyperglycemia by representatives of the adipokinetic/hyperglycemic hormone family in Blaberus discoidalis cockroaches. J Comp Physiol B 160:187-94
Hayes, T K; Pannabecker, T L; Hinckley, D J et al. (1989) Leucokinins, a new family of ion transport stimulators and inhibitors in insect Malpighian tubules. Life Sci 44:1259-66
Keeley, L L; Sowa, S M; Hayes, T K et al. (1988) Neuroendocrine and juvenile hormone effects on fat body protein synthesis during the reproductive cycle in female Blaberus discoidalis cockroaches. Gen Comp Endocrinol 72:364-73
Hayes, T K; Keeley, L L; Knight, D W (1986) Insect hypertrehalosemic hormone: isolation and primary structure from Blaberus discoidalis cockroaches. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 140:674-8