scholarly journals Unique Members of the Adipokinetic Hormone Family in Butterflies and Moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera)

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather G. Marco ◽  
Petr Šimek ◽  
Gerd Gäde

Lepidoptera is amongst one of the four most speciose insect orders and ecologically very successful because of their ability to fly. Insect flight is always aerobic and exacts a high metabolic demand on the animal. A family of structurally related neuropeptides, generically referred to as adipokinetic hormones (AKHs), play a key role in triggering the release of readily utilizable fuel metabolites into the hemolymph from the storage forms in the fat body. We used mass spectrometry to elucidate AKH sequences from 34 species of Lepidoptera and searched the literature and publicly available databases to compile (in a phylogenetic context) a comprehensive list of all Lepidoptera sequences published/predicted from a total of 76 species. We then used the resulting set of 15 biochemically characterized AKHs in a physiological assay that measures lipid or carbohydrate mobilization in three different lepidopteran species to learn about the functional cross-activity (receptor-ligand interactions) amongst the different butterfly/moth families. Our results include novel peptide structures, demonstrate structural diversity, phylogenetic trends in peptide distribution and order-specificity of Lepidoptera AKHs. There is almost an equal occurrence of octa-, nona-, and decapeptides, with an unparalleled emphasis on nonapeptides than in any insect order. Primitive species make Peram-CAH-II, an octapeptide found also in other orders; the lepidopteran signature peptide is Manse-AKH. Not all of the 15 tested AKHs are active in Pieris brassicae; this provides insight into structure-activity specificity and could be useful for further investigations into possible biorational insecticide development.

2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 649
Author(s):  
Siarhei A. Dabravolski ◽  
Vasily N. Sukhorukov ◽  
Vladislav A. Kalmykov ◽  
Nikolay A. Orekhov ◽  
Andrey V. Grechko ◽  
...  

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, representing approximately 32% of all deaths worldwide. Molecular chaperones are involved in heart protection against stresses and age-mediated accumulation of toxic misfolded proteins by regulation of the protein synthesis/degradation balance and refolding of misfolded proteins, thus supporting the high metabolic demand of the heart cells. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is one of the main cardioprotective chaperones, represented by cytosolic HSP90a and HSP90b, mitochondrial TRAP1 and ER-localised Grp94 isoforms. Currently, the main way to study the functional role of HSPs is the application of HSP inhibitors, which could have a different way of action. In this review, we discussed the recently investigated role of HSP90 proteins in cardioprotection, atherosclerosis, CVDs development and the involvements of HSP90 clients in the activation of different molecular pathways and signalling mechanisms, related to heart ageing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. e1009073
Author(s):  
Anamika Agrawal ◽  
Elena F. Koslover

Neurons rely on localized mitochondria to fulfill spatially heterogeneous metabolic demands. Mitochondrial aging occurs on timescales shorter than the neuronal lifespan, necessitating transport of fresh material from the soma. Maintaining an optimal distribution of healthy mitochondria requires an interplay between a stationary pool localized to sites of high metabolic demand and a motile pool capable of delivering new material. Interchange between these pools can occur via transient fusion / fission events or by halting and restarting entire mitochondria. Our quantitative model of neuronal mitostasis identifies key parameters that govern steady-state mitochondrial health at discrete locations. Very infrequent exchange between stationary and motile pools optimizes this system. Exchange via transient fusion allows for robust maintenance, which can be further improved by selective recycling through mitophagy. These results provide a framework for quantifying how perturbations in organelle transport and interactions affect mitochondrial homeostasis in neurons, a key aspect underlying many neurodegenerative disorders.


2021 ◽  
pp. 12-14
Author(s):  
Tamrakar Seema ◽  
Sachdeva Payasvi ◽  
Tripathi Rashmi

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy is associated with high metabolic demand and increased demand for tissue oxygen. Consequently increased production of reactive oxygen species. This leads in increased oxidative stress and decreases antioxidant status during gestational age of normal pregnant women. Aim: Aim of this study was to evaluate the level of oxidant and antioxidant in 1st and 3rd trimester of normal pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study included total 150 cases attended ANC Clinic at the department of Gynae LNMC & J K Hospital was screened for the study. Level of MDA was estimated by Jean et al and SOD was Marklund and Marklund. RESULTS: Findings were, that there was signicantly increase in Malondialdehyde levels (p<0.001) and signicantly decrease in superoxide dismutase activities (P<0.001) in 1st and 3rd trimester of normal pregnant women. Conclusion: present study concludes that there was difference in oxidative status due to dynamic changes. During pregnancy oxidative stress is increased and antioxidant decreased that can be fatal to the health of the mother and the fetus. Therefore antioxidant supplements should be prescribed in early pregnancy to prevent the overwhelming of oxidative stress in pregnant females.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eda Özturan Özer ◽  
Oya Unsal Tan ◽  
Suna Turkoglu

AbstractBackground/ObjectiveGinsenosides, the major active components of the ginseng, are known to have various effects on nervous systems. The present study aimed to clarify the inhibition potentials of ginsenosides Rb1, Rc, Re and Rg1 on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities, and to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of inhibitions provided by protein-ligand interactions considering their probable candidates of prodrug.Materials and methodsThe inhibitory mechanisms of ginsenosides related with their structural diversity were analyzed kinetically and protein-ligand interactions for both enzymes were evaluated with most potent ginsenosides, by molecular docking studies.ResultsGinsenosides Re and Rg1, with sugar moieties attached to the C-6 and C-20 positions of core structure were found to possess the most powerful inhibitory effect on AChE and BChE activities. Molecular docking studies have been confirmed by kinetic studies. Ginsenosides having a direct interaction with amino acid residues belonging to the catalytic triad revealed the most powerful inhibition with lowest enzyme-inhibitor dissociation constant (Ki) values.ConclusionsGinsenosides Re and Rg1, either alone or in a specific combination, may provide beneficial effects on neurodegenerative pathologies in therapeutic terms.


1990 ◽  
Vol 269 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Gäde ◽  
H Wilps ◽  
R Kellner

A hypertrehalosaemic neuropeptide from the corpora cardiaca of the blowfly Phormia terraenovae has been isolated by reversed-phase h.p.l.c., and its primary structure was determined by pulsed-liquid phase sequencing employing Edman chemistry after enzymically deblocking the N-terminal pyroglutamate residue. The C-terminus was also blocked, as indicated by the lack of digestion when the peptide was incubated with carboxypeptidase A. The octapeptide has the sequence pGlu-Leu-Thr-Phe-Ser-Pro-Asp-Trp-NH2 and is clearly defined as a novel member of the RPCH/AKH (red-pigment-concentrating hormone/adipokinetic hormone) family of peptides. It is the first charged member of this family to be found. The synthetic peptide causes an increase in the haemolymph carbohydrate concentration in a dose-dependent fashion in blowflies and therefore is named ‘Phormia terraenovae hypertrehalosaemic hormone’ (Pht-HrTH). In addition, receptors in the fat-body of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) recognize the peptide, resulting in carbohydrate elevation in the blood. However, fat-body receptors of the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) do not recognize this charged molecule, and thus no lipid mobilization is observed in this species.


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