Bombyx prothoracicostatic peptides activate the sex peptide receptor to regulate ecdysteroid biosynthesis.

ABSTRACT: Insect molting and metamorphosis are induced by steroid hormones named ecdysteroids, whose production is regulated by various neuropeptides. We cloned the gene and analyzed the expression of the prothoracicostatic peptide, a unique neuropeptide shown to suppress the production of ecdysteroids in the prothoracic gland of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. We also characterized a Bombyx G protein-coupled receptor, which has previously been identified as an ortholog of the Drosophila sex peptide receptor, as a functional prothoracicostatic peptide receptor. This receptor responded specifically to the prothoracicostatic peptides when examined using a heterologous expression system. The receptor was highly expressed in the prothoracic gland on the day before each larval and pupal ecdysis, when prothora

SUBMITTER: Yamanaka N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2836647 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature