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Purification, characterisation and amino acid composition of the putative moult-inhibiting hormone (MIH) ofCarcinus maenas (Crustacea, Decapoda)

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Summary

Using a Y-organ in vitro assay to measure repression of ecdysteroid synthesis in the presence of putative moult-inhibiting hormone (MIH), in conjunction with HPLC separation of sinus gland neuropeptides ofCarcinus maenas, it was found that both the hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) and a novel peptide (argued to represent the MIH) inhibited ecdysteroid synthesis. The latter was purified to homogeneity, and amino acid analysis showed that it is a 61 residue peptide (minimum molecular mass 7,200 Da) with the following amino acid composition: Asx9; Thr2; Ser2; Glx7; Pro1; Gly4; Ala2; 1/2 Cys4; Val4; Met1; Ile3; Leu5; Tyr1; Phe3; His3; Trp2; Lys2; Arg6. The N-terminus appears to be blocked. MIH is at least 20 times more potent than CHH in repressing ecdysteroid synthesis and is active at concentrations of less than 250 pmol/l. There may be structural similarities between CHH and MIH, howeve, MIH displays no CHH radioimmunoreactivity or hyperglycemic activity. The physiological significance of CHH in controlling ecdysteroid titres is not known.

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Abbreviations

CHH :

hyperglycemic hormone

MIH :

moult inhibiting hormone

PAGE :

polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

RIA :

radioimmunoassay

SDS :

sodium dodecyl sulfate

SG :

smus gland(s)

SGE :

sinus gland equivalent

TFA :

trifluoroacetic acid

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Author notes

  1. S. G. Webster

    Present address: School of Animal Biology, University College of North Wales, LL57 2UW, Bangor, Gwynedd, U.K.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Zoophysiologie der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Endenicher Allee 11-13, D-5300, Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany

    S. G. Webster & R. Keller

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  1. S. G. Webster
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  2. R. Keller
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Webster, S.G., Keller, R. Purification, characterisation and amino acid composition of the putative moult-inhibiting hormone (MIH) ofCarcinus maenas (Crustacea, Decapoda). J Comp Physiol B 156, 617–624 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00692738

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